Syrians in Paris for talks

The Syrian Vice President, Abdel Halim Khaddam, has arrived in Paris for talks with French leaders on the stalled Middle East peace process.

Mr Khaddam, who's accompanied by the Foreign Minister, Farouk al-Shara, is due to see President Jacques Chirac early tomorrow .

He'll also meet the Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, and Foreign Minister, Hubert Vedrine.

The visit was delayed by a day because of bad weather in the Paris region.

It comes a week before Mr Vedrine starts a Middle East tour

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service