Controversy as Sarkozy expels scores of Roma

FRANCE expelled scores of Roma, packing them on planes and flying them back to Romania yesterday at the start of a crackdown ordered by President Nicolas Sarkozy which has drawn strong criticism.

A planeload of around 60 Roma landed at Bucharest’s Aurel Vlaicu airport in the early afternoon, the first expulsion since Sarkozy last month vowed action against Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities.

The policy is attracting increasing concern, both at home and abroad, from those who fear it discriminates against one of the European Union’s most vulnerable and impoverished communities.