France continues to deport Roma

FRANCE defied mounting international criticism of its crackdown on Roma and Gypsy minorities yesterday, sending another planeload back to eastern Europe.

As the French opposition accused President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government of “state racism” and Romania expressed concern, a Blue Air flight left Paris with around 130 Roma on board, headed for Timisoara in western Romania.

Police had escorted three busloads of Roma – men, women and children carrying plastic bags – into Charles de Gaulle airport.