Iran says France is dangerous place

IRAN has warned its citizens against travelling to France, because of what it says is a "serious level" of unrest in the country.

The Iranian foreign ministry said France was a country in crisis following recent protests against the government's pensions reforms.

Official news agency IRNA quoted an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman yesterday as saying: "We think the crisis in France has reached a serious level, and we advise all our nationals who plan to travel to this country to take necessary precautions.

"Our compatriots have been informed of the travel warning via the Foreign Ministry website and the Iranian Embassy in Paris."

The warning came hours after France and the UK called on all countries to follow the EU's lead by implementing "stringent, targeted sanctions" against Iran.

Nicolas Sarkozy and David Cameron said in a joint statement yesterday: "Iran's nuclear proliferation activities and its persistent violation of UN Security Council resolutions are of the utmost concern."

Meanwhile, France says it is applying "total vigilance" after renewed threats of a terrorist attack.

Arabic news network Al-Jazeera aired an audio message from Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden last week targeting France.

He said the country's burqa ban and the presence of French troops in Afghanistan justified killing French nationals.

President Sarkozy has defending the burqa ban law, which is due to come into force next spring, saying France would not allow its policy "to be dictated by anyone and certainly not by terrorists".

During his visit to London yesterday to sign the defence Franco-British treaty, the president said: "We are working with our allies not just daily, but hour by hour. We are exchanging information."