French PM in Morocco

The French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, has held talks with King Hassan of Morocco in Rabat at the start of an African tour that will also take him to Senegal and Mali.

Mr Jospin said his visit confirmed the exceptional friendship between Morocco and France, and he hoped to make new progress on bilateral relations.

He also gave reassurances over France's immigration policy, saying relations with friendly countries would be borne in mind.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service