The 14-strong board, including Rand Araskog of ITT, Jacques Friedmann of AXA-UAP, Noel Goutard of Valeo and former Societe Generale chairman Marc Viennot, is also likely to discuss last week's share slump.

A spokesman for Alcatel said, however, that the share buyback was the only item on the agenda.

Alcatel's stock slumped after Tchuruk sounded a profit-warning on Thursday as he announced a record first-half profit.

On Friday, attorneys for former shareholders of DSC Communications Corp filed class action suits alleging misrepresentation of the corporate outlook during a share swap bid for DSC.

In an interview with Les Echos on Monday, Tchuruk said Alcatel complied fully with US regulations in its bid earlier this year for DSC and the merger was irrevocable.

"There isn't a big financialtransaction that takes place in the United States without triggering a class action for one reason or another. It's a way for certain shareholders to try to get more. We'll deal with the issue. We have respected American regulations to the letter," Tchuruk was quoted as saying.

"It's a matter for lawyers now. The DSC deal cannot be reversed," he said.

Pension funds holding Alcatel stock and financial analysts have also complained that they were not alerted earlier by Alcatel that the business climate had deteriorated.

"Maybe we should have prepared people better. But I said it as soon as I knew it. Maybe one could think that I was informed a little late, but I take responsibility," Tchuruk said.

"It's not Alcatel's communication style that's in question. It may be that our corporate culture needs to be improved so that our operating staff know how to anticipate the ever more fluctuating trends in the market better and faster," he said.