The assets it could sell include a 17% stake in Spain's Airtel, a stake in a French mobile telephone company, as well as its stake in Japan Telecom.

BBC: Can Bland revive BT?

One is a French firm selling an Internet telephone.

CNN: THE MONEYMAN

After holding a three-way telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Jacques Chirac to work out a common position on this issue, Mr Schroeder said it was important that "as far as possible" unity in the Security Council should be maintained.

BBC: Jacques Chirac, Vladimir Putin and Gerhard Schroeder

It follows a telephone call between Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

BBC: Greece 'integral' to the eurozone, say European leaders

He has cut the telephone lines to the presidency and has started running French Polynesia's affairs from nearby government buildings.

ECONOMIST: Whose turn to be president?