The French Interior Minister, Jean-Pierre Chevenement, has called for a closer relationship between the state and moderate Muslims.

Islam is the second-largest religion in France after Roman Catholicism but has no formal organisation to represent the interests of the four-million Muslim residents -- half of whom are French citizens.

Mr Chevenement said in an interview with the newspaper Le Monde that the lack of an organisation to liaise with the authorities meant Muslims were missing out on government aid, such as funding to build new mosques.

He said Islam could be a stabilising influence in French society but stressed that this did not imply support for Islamic fundamentalism.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service