A court inquiry has been ordered by the French Foreign Ministry to investigate French diplomats who allegedly sold visas to Bulgarians in Sofia.

The investigation will look into the period from January to April 10, when visas for Bulgarians travelling to France and other Schengen countries were removed. "It will investigate information that French diplomats issued and traded in visas," said Cecile Longe, first secretary in the French Embassy in Sofia on Monday. The official added that the inquiry would be fully independent.

"I cannot comment further and I do not know if Ambassador (Dominique) Chassard is in Paris now," said Longe.

According to a report on the BBC, the French ambassador was recalled to Paris within the last week. The report said that a check by the French Foreign Ministry confirmed that Chassard was involved in the illegal issuing and sale of visas - prompting the recall. According to the BBC, almost all members of the French consulate in Sofia were involved.

"In March, the French Foreign Ministry received information about possible trade in visas in the French consulate in Sofia and sent officials to check the tip," said Longe. "The French Foreign Ministry acts in the most categorical manner in suspicious undertakings involving the issuing of visas not only in Bulgaria," said Longe.

BBC reported that internal sanctions have been imposed, but the French government has yet to release any names or further details.

Chassard has headed the French Embassy in Sofia since May 19, 1999. On Monday, the BBC broadcast quoted the French newspaper Tribune, which recalled an earlier scandal which involved the French Embassy in Sofia and the illegal issuing of visas that was uncovered by the Bulgarian media.

According to a January article in Trud, Rudi Demaunge, a French Embassy officer, was involved in such illegal activity. The newspaper reported that he was assisting his Bulgarian girlfriend who was earning a profit of 350 to 1,000 leva per visa. Demaunge was recalled to Paris. The embassy thanked the newspaper for the information, reported Trud on Tuesday.

About 55,000 visas were issued last year - twice the number of the previous year.

According to information released from Paris, Chassard has returned only to help in the investigation and has not been recalled.

Martin Rwoceaczyt, the press attaché of the French Embassy in Sofia, refused to comment on the matter due to a lack of official information from Paris.