Paris  - The French government late Saturday sharply criticized Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip, saying it "complicated" peace efforts.

"France condemns Israel's ground offensive against Gaza just as it condemns the continued rocket attacks" by Hamas against Israel, the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ground attack "complicates efforts undertaken by the international community, especially the European Union and France, the members of the (Mideast) Quartet and the countries in the region to end the conflict (and) provide immediate aid to civilians," the statement read.

London, Jan 3 : France''s justice minister Rachida Dati gave birth to a baby girl in Paris late Friday.

The 43-year-old, however, has not yet revealed the name of the child''s father.

Zohra was delivered 15 days prematurely by caesarean section in a maternity clinic, reports the Telegraph.

Dati confessed that she has a "complicated" private life, and that the father of her first child would naturally be a subject for speculation.

French internet chat rooms and blogs have been inundated in recent months with rumours about her private life.

Dati confirmed pregnancy rumours to reporters last summer, adding: "I will say nothing more for the moment about the father."

Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy received Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Thursday for urgent talks on trying to end the latest Gaza Strip crisis.

The talks were already overshadowed by an Israeli rejection of a call by the European Union for a 48-hour truce in the hostilities.

Sarkozy is to travel to the Mideast region starting next Monday to continue his mediation efforts, with visits to Cairo, Ramallah and Jerusalem, Elysee Palace said.

Paris - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni repeated her government's rejection of a ceasefire with militants in the Gaza Strip during meetings with French officials in Paris on Thursday.

Livni's visit to France was overshadowed from the start by an Israeli rejection of a call by the European Union for a 48-hour truce in the hostilities. Israel argued that it is the victim of terrorist attacks.

Tel Aviv - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni will travel to Paris Thursday to debate the crisis in Gaza with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon, a senior adviser said.

The adviser, Yigal Palmor, said they would discuss "different ideas about what can be done on the diplomatic level" - but not a French proposal for a 48-hour humanitarian truce in Gaza, which Israel has rejected.

London, December 31: A French village called Carlat wants to twin itself with an Italian one called Bruni in honour of Carla Bruni, the First Lady of France.

Carlat is a picturesque settlement in the Auvergne region in the south of France, with a population of around 150.

It wants to celebrate Carla's success in improving popularity ratings of her husband, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, with constant appearances in the international

media.