A : The Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed this morning on France Info that he had issued “instructions that special safety precautions be taken in all countries where this could cause a problem.”

There are five measures that can be tailored to the local situation:

 firstly, a message urging French nationals living in these countries to exercise caution. We advise them not to take any risks and to avoid large gatherings;

 secondly, a message urging our staff in our embassies and consulates to be vigilant;

- we’ve also reaffirmed to the authorities of the countries concerned that they should ensure the security of all our missions. It’s their responsibility in accordance with the international conventions;

 lastly, we’ve increased the security of our embassies and our consulates, for example with respect to the security procedures relating to the access to premises;

 as a precaution, we’ve also decided to close our establishments on Friday in around 20 countries: embassies, consulates, cultural centers, and schools.