French demonstrate against proposed Gypsy exile

PARIS - Thousands of people marched in Paris and around France yesterday to protest expulsions of Gypsies and other new security measures adopted by President Nicolas Sarkozy's government.

Protesters blew whistles and beat drums in Paris, the largest demonstration among those in at least 135 cities and towns across France and elsewhere in Europe. Human rights and anti-racism groups, labor unions and leftist political parties were taking part in the protests.

They accuse Sarkozy of stigmatizing minority groups such as Gypsies and seeking political gain with a security crackdown. They say he is violating French traditions of welcoming the oppressed, in a country that is one of the world's leading providers of political asylum.

The protests mark the first show of public discontent since the conservative Sarkozy announced new measures to fight crime in late July.

Sarkozy said Gypsy camps would be "systematically evacuated." His interior minister and other officials said last week that about 1,000 Roma have been given small stipends and flown home since then.

For years, Sarkozy has used his image as a tough, law-and-order politician to win political support. Sarkozy has linked Roma to crime.