PARIS, Sept. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) banned Friday flights by Cameroon Airlines for an indefinite period for safety reasons.

    "The suspension follows tests carried out in the spring on company aircraft which revealed several failures to meet international norms notably in the fields of loading, transport ofdangerous materials, navigation documentation and tyre maintenance," the DGAC said in a statement.

    "The DGAC asked for an audit of operating conditions with satisfactory conclusions by September 15, but this did not happen," said the statement, adding "The suspension may be lifted as soonas satisfactory audit results are tramsmitted to the DGAC".

    Later Friday, an Air France plane flying to Cameroon and bound for the Cameroonian airport of Douala was forced to turn around and head back to Paris after Cameroonian officials withdrew groundsupport for the French company.

    "The assistance operations for Air France at the Cameroonian airport could not be totally guaranteed," an Air France spokesman said without giving details. Enditem