French death toll in Haiti earthquake rises to 22

The death toll of French citizens in last week's devastating earthquake in Haiti has risen to 22, the French Foreign Ministry said Thursday, DPA reported.

In addition, 11 French persons were still missing. Some 1,500 French nationals were in Haiti at the time of the quake.

The Foreign Ministry also said there would be more than 1,000 rescue and health workers dispatched by the government in Haiti by Friday, when the latest deployment of aid personnel is scheduled to be completed.

The French government again called for the rapid deployment of a unit of European police officers to be placed under the command of the UN's MINUSTAH peacekeeping force.

Paris would be prepared to contribute up to 100 gendarmes to the unit, which would be stationed in Haiti for at least six months.