A French judge is reported to be seeking permission to question the Kurdish separatist leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who is under house arrest in Italy.

Officials say the investigating magistrate, Jean-François Ricard, wants to question Mr Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdish Workers' Party, the PKKabout alleged criminal activity by his party's supporters in France.

Mr Ocalan was arrested in Rome three weeks ago on warrants from Turkey and Germany.

Meanwhile, Mr Ocalan has said in a newspaper interview that he is ready to face trial in a European or international court.