1.   Analysts say the French ministry is withholding approval until Generali and Allianz have secured an agreement.

2.   Before turning to a London clinic, Pinochet had apparently planned to have his surgery done in France, but the French foreign ministry refused his visa request.

3.   A French foreign ministry official, commenting on recent reports from his embassy in Moscow, said several factors appear to favor the Communists in the December elections.

4.   A spokeswoman for the French foreign ministry, Anne Gazeau-Secret, said Thursday that that her government had requested that Annan appoint a European to the post.

5.   About half the money came from funds provided by the city, various French state ministries and agencies, and the Midi-Pyrenees regional council.

6.   French foreign ministry officials were said to be aghast.

7.   Neither French ministry commented on the case of Hemard, which has not yet been resolved by the INS, according to Bourequat.

8.   The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported earlier today that the French foreign ministry has said it will consider cancelling contracts to import Australian coal and uranium.

9.   A French foreign ministry spokesman in Paris said Aziz was due in the French capital Monday for talks with Prime Minister Alain Juppe and Foreign Minister Herve De Charette.

10.   A French foreign ministry spokesman in Paris offered to help French citizens and other foreigners evacuate.