Euromed conference starts

A two-day conference of foreign ministers from twenty-seven countries in Europe and the Mediterranean basin begins later today in the southern French city of Marseilles.

The Euromed forum is expected to discuss improved arrangements for an EU aid programme in countries to the east and south of the Mediterranean.

But there are also fears that the meeting will be adversely affected by the current hostilities in the Middle East - Libya and Syria have already said they would boycott the forum because of Israel's participation.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service