French FM expresses concerns over Trump's order to vet refugees

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Saturday said U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to curb refugees flows are worrying.

At a joint press conference with his visiting German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel, Ayrault said Trump's decision to halt immigration and refugees from some Muslim-majority countries "can only worry us".

"We have international commitments that we have signed. Welcoming refugees fleeing the war, oppression is part of our duties," Ayrault added.

Ayrault and Sigmar Gabriel discussed in Paris "what (they) are going to do" to face Trump administration uncertainty in handling major international issues such as Iran nuclear deal, Russia sanctions, Middle East conflict and peace accord in Syria.

Trump signed an executive order Friday enacting a vetting process for refugees coming into the United States, in the name of guarding against terrorist threats.

The White House released no details of the document. But U.S. media reports suggested that the order may include an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees and a four-month ban on all refugees as the U.S. government assesses the level of risks in each country.

Reports have also suggested that the United States would refrain from giving visas to citizens of Iran, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iraq. Endit