Hollande says Nokia must guarantee French jobs in Alcatel deal

French President Francois Hollande said Wednesday he supported Finnish firm Nokia's 15.6-billion-euro ($16.6 billion) bid to buy its rival Alcatel-Lucent, but only if it guarantees French jobs, AFP reports.

"We are favourable to anything that would make a world leader," Hollande said, setting out "two conditions" -- that "jobs are guaranteed in France" and that research in France is "increased."

He said he had said the same thing to the chiefs of both companies at the French presidential palace Tuesday, adding he and the French government "would examine their proposals."

If these conditions are upheld the merger will create a "force that will benefit Europe and the two countries concerned," he told reporters in the Swiss capital.