France promises more humane immigration policy

The French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, has promised that illegal immigrants will be treated more humanely in future.

Speaking during a visit to Mali in West Africa -- a source of many illegal immigrants to France -- he said there would be no return to the days of deporting people on charter planes.

The French authorities have used such flights to remove Malian citizens in the past.

But Mr Jospin told the National Assembly in Bamako that strict French immigration controls would not be eased, because of the risk of inciting extremist forces.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service