France pleased about Kufuor's election

France is pleased about the election of Ghanaian President John Kufuor as the chairman of the African Union (AU), and desires to "further strengthen" its ties with the bloc, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said on Tuesday.

Mattei said the election of Kufuor is a tribute to the people and the steadfastness of democracy in his country. The spokesman assured the new AU chairman of France's "support" and willingness to "further strengthen its ties with the union."

Mattei also applauded outgoing AU chairman, the Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso who "personally took charge of the search for solutions to numerous conflicts in Africa."

Kufuor was chosen on Monday to take over the AU rotating chairmanship for the year 2007.