Iraq: France's stand on war unchanged, minister

France's position against war in Iraq remained unchanged, said French interior minister, Dominique de Villepin, who wrapped up Tuesday a two-day working visit in Morocco.

In an interview Tuesday with Morocco's national TV "TVM," the French minister said France's position is the same for it is a "position of principle and conscience."

"We are convinced that what was at stake in Iraq and through a number of crises across the world is our ability to invent another way, a way of solidarity, unity and values, he said.

The minister insisted on the importance of values of tolerance, and the necessity to "show that our conviction is stronger than fear."

De Villepin earlier hailed the "important support France received from all the Arab world" in the hostage crisis in Iraq. "This friendship and faithfulness of all religious establishments and officials has moved us, and I think it was the fruit of deep mobilization," he said.

Two French journalists, Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, are held hostages since August 20 by a group that calls itself "the Islamic Army in Iraq." The gunmen want France to abrogate its law of secularism in schools, banning any ostensible religious signs such as head scarves or big crosses in education institutions.

During his visit, the French official was received by King Mohammed VI and held talks with Moroccan officials on "issues of common concern," notably immigration, counter-terrorism, drug-trafficking and administrative cooperation.