A French parliamentary committee has said there are major shortcomings in the country's ability to tackle money laundering.

In its report the committee especially highlighted the situation in the cities of the French Riviera where it said it had found evidence of collusion between political and business leaders, and that money launderers in the region were enjoying effective impunity.

The report said much of the laundering took place through the sale of real estate, and that many of those involved came from Russia.

The report is the last from the committee that in the past has criticised Britain, Switzerland and Luxembourg over what it said was unwillingness to tackle money laundering.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service