France did not prepare to welcome Tunisia's Ben Ali: Foreign Ministry

France did not prepare to welcome ousted Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on its territory, the French Foreign Ministry said Friday.

France "didn't receive any request to receive" Ben Ali and would closely examining all potential requests "in accordance with Tunisian constitutional authorities," the ministry said in a statement.

Citing a French police source, local TV channel BFM reported earlier a plane carrying fleeing Ben Ali was heading to Paris. When inquired by Xinhua, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Romain Nadal said the ministry can't confirm the report.

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