Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, May 31 (Xinhua) -- France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner arrived in Iraq on Saturday in an unannounced visit.

    Kouchner arrived in the city of Nassriyah, 375 km southeast of Baghdad and was received in the city airport by Iraq's Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi, who lived in exile in France when Iraq's toppled president Saddam Hussein was in power.

    "The objective of this visit is to send a message of love and peace for the Iraqi people. France is willing to build tourist utilities in the city," Kouchner was quoted as saying by the Voices of Iraq news agency.

    "The French government is ready to launch projects in Iraq in coordination with the central government in Baghdad," he said.

    Earlier, an Iraqi foreign ministry source said during his two-day visit, Kouchner was scheduled to meet Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari.

    Kouchner was also expected to travel Sunday to the northern city of Arbil in the Kurdish autonomous region to open a French diplomatic office.