French Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin announced that the State is doing everything it can to find Florence Aubenas, the journalist from the daily Liberation newspaper, missing in Iraq since Wednesday and he has warned the media about the " extreme volatility " of the region.

"We are currently compiling all the necessary information so that there can be a satisfactory ending, one that is desired by all parties", stated the Prime Minister as he conveyed his best wishes to the media.

"Obviously we do not want journalists to put their lives in danger, in particular in Iraq, even if I understand that your quest for information is a matter of great pride", said Mr Raffarin.

"But my duty as Prime Minister is to remind you of the extreme chaos in a country where lack of security creates the utmost danger", continued Mr Raffarin as he stressed:" chaos is increasing, security is lacking to a huge degree, I must tell you that the situation is one of extreme danger ".

The head of Government announced that "he had asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Michel Barnier) to consult with the editors of the spoken and printed media this week to look at the conditions in which journalists are working, in such circumstances, and to think of precautions that need to be taken".

Mr Raffarin also reiterated that the government is equally and totally determined to "obtain the freedom of Ingrid Betancourt" held by a guerrilla group in Colombia.

" I am also thinking of Frederick Nérac (editor's note: the journalist who went missing at the beginning of the war in Iraq) and of his family and this terrible uncertainty about his fate", he added.