French consulate denies entry visa to Moroccan woman wishing to help daughter with new-born triplets

The French consulate in Fez has refused to deliver an entry visa to a grand-mother who wanted to go to France to help her daughter who has just given birth to triplets.

French daily "Le Monde" reported on Sunday the daughter, legally settled in France, has two other kids and has a house large enough to accommodate her mother. The triplets were born before term and one of the other two children often suffers asthma crises.

A French local official protested the French consulate move saying "it is an emergency humanitarian problem, if the grand-mother was allowed to come, it would cost less money to care for the five children."

The French daily also recalls the promise made by French foreign minister, Hubert Vedrine, when he took office in June 1997 to facilitate visa-granting procedures.