France 'impatient' to Speak to Hostages' Driver

France is "waiting impatiently" to be granted access to the freed Syrian driver of two French journalists being held hostage in Iraq, the country's foreign minister said today.

Michel Barnier said France had "immediately asked the United States for the possibility to get in touch" with the driver, Mohammed al-Joundi, who was rescued last week by US marines in Fallujah.

"We are waiting impatiently for that to happen," Mr Barnier said. "I hope it will happen as soon as possible," he told Europe-1 radio.

The French authorities hope Mr al-Joundi can provide new clues to the whereabouts of Christian Chesnot, 37, of Radio France Internationale, and Georges Malbrunot, 41, of the daily newspaper le Figaro. The journalists disappeared on August 20 while driving to the Iraqi city of Najaf.

Mr al-Joundi told US marines he was separated from the journalists a month ago and had not seen them since.

But French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said at the weekend that the discovery of Mr al-Joundi "restores some confidence" about the fate of the two reporters.

Mr Barnier said at the weekend that the French authorities were working to resume communication with the group believed to have kidnapped the reporters.

"We have had direct contact and we are trying to resume these contacts," he said.

The French government has been tight-lipped about its efforts to free the hostages, saying secrecy is essential for the men's safety and the success of any negotiations.