Any action on Iraq will conducted be in conjunction with arab friends, french fm

French Foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, who started on Wednesday a two-day visit to Morocco, said that any action concerning Iraq will be undertaken in "conjunction with our Arab friends."

Villepin, who made this statement upon arrival in Rabat, said Paris rejects automatic use of force in handling the Iraqi crisis, emphasizing the "important" progress scored recently concerning this issue.

The French foreign minister also stressed that the future of the Middle East "can't be envisioned without permanently associating the countries concerned in the region," adding that "France is keen on maintaining a permanent dialogue with all its Arab friends."

France, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, "insists that the weapons inspection system be clear and realistic" allowing for a rapid return of inspectors to Iraq, he said.

Villepin said he will transmit to King Mohammed VI a message of "affection and esteem" from President Chirac, adding that he will meet the newly appointed Prime minister, Driss Jettou and his Moroccan counterpart, Mohamed Benaissa, with whom he will discuss "the difficult current regional and international situation."

During his visit to Rabat, his birthplace, Villepin chaired on Thursday a conference on cultural dialogue between both shores of the Mediterranean and is scheduled to give a press conference later in the day.