France worried by situation in Iraq, urges citizens to leave

French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin told parliament Tuesday that the government was "extremely worried" by the current situation in Iraq.

"I call on all nationals who are in Iraq to come back and I call on all those who plan a trip to Iraq to postpone it," news agencies quoted Raffarin as saying.

"The situation developed as we have feared since the beginning of the crisis," he added.

Raffarin's concerns came amid a spate of hostage-taking with foreigners as targets in Iraq in recent days, and French television news agency Capa reported one of its staff was kidnapped near Baghdad, the first French national known to be heldhostage.

According to French governmental sources, there are now about 100 French citizens in Iraq working as aid staff, reconstruction project employees, diplomats and journalists.

Confronted by the deteriorating situation in Iraq, especially the mounting civilian casualties and the abduction of foreigners, the international community should attach great importance to the security issue in the violence-ravaged country, Raffarin said.

France has been seeking a permanent solution to the current crisis, and such a lasting solution has to involve reconstructing politics and economy in Iraq, returning power to the Iraqi people,safeguarding the country's territorial integrity and ensuring religious and ethnic reunification, Raffarin said.

Only by political dialogues can the world find a permanent solution to the crisis, Raffarin stressed, calling on the international community to coordinate stances and make contributions.

Raffarin reaffirmed that France has not budged from its commitment to solving the Iraqi crisis, and will always not. France will take its due responsibility to help restore peace to Iraq.

France is a vocal opponent to the US-led war in Iraq, and has refused to contribute troops to the post-war country, stressing a UN authorization and invitation from a sovereign Iraqi governmentwould be the prerequisite for its military presence.

Source: Xinhua