Palestinian FM to meet French officials next week

The new Palestinian foreign minister is expected to meet with his French counterpart and the prime minister during a three-day visit to France, the French Foreign Ministry said Friday. The visit of Ziad Abu Amr, who was invited by French officials, will focus on the situation in the Middle East after this week's Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia, said ministry spokesman Denis Simonneau. Abu Amr, an independent, is to meet with French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy on Monday and Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin a day later, Simonneau said.