Air France flies to Ebola-hit Guinea out of 'solidarity': Hollande

Paris (AFP) - Air France is maintaining its flights to Ebola-hit Guinea as a sign of France's "solidarity", President Francois Hollande said Monday as he hosted a visit by Guinea's President Alpha Conde.

International help needed to be ramped up for Guinea and other west African nations struggling with the deadly epidemic, which has killed more than 3,000 people since the start of the year, the French leader said.

At the same time, those countries suffering "should not be isolated and should remain open," he said.

"That is why Air France continues to work" by maintaining flights to Guinea's capital Conakry, Hollande said.

Air France, however, in August suspended its services to neighbouring Sierra Leone, which is also beset by the virus.

Other airlines, including British Airways, have also halted flights to Ebola-struck parts of west Africa.

Hollande assured Conde of France's "total solidarity" as Guinea grapples with the disease. Ebola has infected 1,074 people and killed 648 in Guinea.

He said his government has allocated 35 million euros ($44 million) and would soon establish a third Ebola clinic with the dispatch of another 25 French doctors to help Guinea battle the epidemic.