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Rain storms kill nine in France
At least nine people have died and several others were reported missing following violent rain storms that hit France's Mediterranean coast through the night.
Most of the deaths occurred in or around the town of Draguignan, which was hit by severe flash floods.
More than 350 mm (14 inches) of rain fell on the Var in just a few hours, triggering violent flooding that carried on through the night.
French television showed some streets in the region clogged with overturned cars that had been swept away by the ragging waters. President Nicolas Sarkozy and government ministers were expected to tour the flood zones later today.
