French officials and Muslim leaders have agreed to the creation of the first body to represent the country's five million Muslims - Europe's largest community. The breakthrough comes after several years of efforts to formalise relations between Muslims and the government. These efforts were spurred on by the 11 September attacks in the United States. A final round of talks began on Thursday near Paris after Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy persuaded the country's three main Islamic organisations to settle their differences and work together. The new body will be called the French Council for the Muslim Religion, and will be the equivalent of the UK's Muslim Council.