French team ends search for Nepal climbers

PARIS, Nov 22 (Reuters) A French military team sent to Nepal to help search for four French climbers missing in the Himalayas has abandoned the search and is to return home, the ministry of defence said.

In a statement late yesterday, it said that search conditions had become dangerous and a large avalanche had ended hope of finding the climbers soon.

The four -- two mountain guides and two climbers hoping to become guides -- went to climb the 5,896 metre Paldor peak north of the capital, Kathmandu, last month and were due to return on November 5.

Reuters LL GC1504