France's foreign minister said Wednesday that Iran will not hang Sakineh Ashtiani, a woman accused of adultery and previously sentenced to a stoning, after human rights groups raised the alarm that authorities had reached a verdict on her punishment.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Thursday that a new threat against France from Osama bin Laden publicised Wednesday was "opportunism" and played down the al Qaeda chief's ties to those behind the kidnapping of French nationals in Niger.
There has been much speculation in France over the future of Bernard Kouchner. The country's foreign affairs minister had been expected to be the victim of a reshuffle due to take place in the coming weeks. Whilst he doesn't deny sending a letter of resignaton to President Sarkozy, he has since said that he is committed to serving in the government.
Amid speculation that Bernard Kouchner will be replaced in a November cabinet reshuffle, a media report revealed Wednesday that France's Foreign Minister had offered his resignation in August after being 'humiliated' by presidential advisors.
FRENCH PAPERS, 7.10.2010: Libération leads with the controversial censorship of American film director Larry Clark's photo exhibiton at the Paris Museum of Modern Art. Paris City Hall has ruled that only over 18s can visit the exhibiton which features nude photos of teenagers. Also: strikes, Bernard Kouchner’s resignation letter and more coverage on the Jérôme Kerviel ruling.
The Twitter account of the French ministry of foreign affairs was the victim of cyber-piracy on Thursday, sending thousands of subscribers a hateful message about Roma people.
France has stepped up plans to deport foreigners caught in breach of the peace, especially those aggressively begging or stealing. The measures have provoked international criticism but France’s Immigration Minister Eric Besson was in Brussels on Tuesday to defend the country’s decision. Members of the government are also divided over this issue - Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he had considered resigning in protest.
Nicolas Sarkozy has outlined his government’s foreign policy objectives. He says stabilising erratic foreign exchange and commodities markets will feature high on France's agenda when it heads the G20 from November. Among other subjects, he also stressed that French forces will remain in Afghanistan for as long as they are needed there.
France is now at war with al Qaeda, France's Prime Minister François Fillon (pictured) said Tuesday, after the group's North African branch executed 78-year-old French national Michel Germaneau.
