Growing criticism of Roma repatriation

Criticism mounted across the French political spectrum yesterday at president Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to repatriate large numbers of Roma and demolish over 300 of their camps.

The French government began tearing down the camps last month in a crime crackdown targeting immigrants. More than 200 Roma have been sent back to Romania in recent days. But the crackdown, which prompted rights groups and opposition parties to call a national protest for next week, has also angered many on the French Right.

"This is a shameful policy. It's an electoral strategy. This will contribute nothing to the security of French people," said former prime minister Dominique de Villepin yesterday, a rival of Mr Sarkozy's who recently split from the ruling UMP party.

"Its aim is to drive a wedge between the Right and Left and I protest because the French Right is not like this," he said.

The far-right National Front and the opposition Socialist party have also berated what they called a political manoeuvre.