Nicolas Sarkozy Hits Back at Critics of Roma Expulsions
THE TELEGRAPH: Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, has angrily denounced "disgusting" comparisons of his Roma expulsion policy with Second World War round-ups of Jews and claimed that all European leaders supported his campaign against illegal gipsy camps.

Mr Sarkozy was involved in a "fierce and heated" argument with Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President as the dispute over France's expulsion of Roma dominated an EU summit on Thursday.

"The disgusting and shameful words that were used - World War II, the evocation of the Jews - was something that shocked us deeply," he said.

Viviane Reding, the EU's justice commissioner, earlier this week condemned President Sarkozy's treatment of Roma gipsies as a "disgrace" that reminded her of wartime Vichy France's collaboration with Nazi deportations of Jews and gipsies.

"Europe is unanimous that the Roma issue is extremely worrying," said Mr Sarkozy.

"Mrs Reding said extremely insulting things. It was deeply shocking to hear someone speak like this and make simplifications that hurt and shocked my fellow citizens." >>> Bruno Waterfield in Brussels | Thursday, September 16, 2010

Iran Expels BBC Correspondent: Official
REUTERS: TEHRAN - Iran has decided to expel the BBC's correspondent in Tehran over the broadcaster's coverage of this month's election, an Iranian official said on Sunday, and a semi-official news agency said Jon Leyne had 24 hours to leave.

The BBC confirmed Leyne, its permanent correspondent in Tehran, has been asked to leave, adding "The BBC office remains open."

An official at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, which deals with foreign media, said Leyne had been told of the expulsion decision.

The official did not give details, but state radio cited the "distortion of news regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran and particularly news pertaining to the election."

The BBC in turn has accused the authorities of interfering with its broadcasts.

The semi-official Fars News Agency, which said Leyne must leave within 24 hours, also said he was accused of "dispatching fabricated news and reports" and "ignoring neutrality in news.."

He was also accused of "supporting rioters and trampling the Iranian nation's rights," Fars said. >>> Reporting by Hashem Kalantari and Fredrik Dahl; editing by Matthew Jones | Sunday, June 21, 2009

TIMES ONLINE: Iran and Britain in Diplomatic Stand-off as Protest Death Toll Rises

Britain and Iran moved towards a full-blown diplomatic crisis today as David Miliband rejected claims that the Government was stirring protests against the disputed re-election of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Within hours of confirmation that the BBC correspondent Jon Leyn had been ordered to leave Tehran, Iran’s foreign minister rebuked Britain for raising questions about voting irregularities.

As the death toll from clashes between demonstrators and security forces continued to rise, Manouchehr Mottaki told diplomats: “Great Britain has plotted against the presidential election for more than two years. We witnessed an influx of people before the election. Elements linked to the British secret service were flying in in droves.”

His comments come after Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused “the evil British government” on Friday of interfering last weekend's election. >>> Jeremy Griffin | Sunday, June 21, 2009

Tollé en Italie après une expulsion de clandestins
LEFIGARO: Les propos de Silvio Berlusconi, qui a rejeté l'idée d'une Italie «multiethnique» pour justifier des reconduites en Lybie, suscitent la polémique.

Fram est désespéré. Cet adolescent gambien de 17 ans a dépensé toutes les économies que sa tante lui avait données pour gagner l'Angleterre. Vendredi, avec 226 autres clandestins, il a été ramené en Libye par des ­garde-côtes italiens. Leur embarcation avait été arraisonnée en haute mer, sur indication des autorités maritimes libyennes. C'était la première fois que Tripoli acceptait de reprendre des immigrés partis de son territoire. En deux jours, plus d'un demi-millier de clandestins interceptés en mer ont été refoulés vers ce pays.

Ces opérations ont suscité une vive polémique. Le ministre italien de l'Intérieur Roberto Maroni (Ligue du Nord) parle de «décision historique». Pour la première fois, Tripoli applique l'accord bilatéral sur la régulation des flux d'immigration. De Charm el-Cheikh où il se trouvait mardi, Silvio Berlusconi a affirmé que ces arrivages massifs de clandestins par voie maritime en Italie «ne sont pas le fruit du hasard, mais le résultat d'une stratégie délibérée de bandes criminelles planifiant ces transferts de manière scientifique». Il refuse que l'Italie, avec 7 % de population immigrée, ne devienne «multiethnique».

Les critiques pleuvent. Le HCR (Haut-Commissariat des Nations unies pour les réfugiés), le Conseil de l'Europe, le Vatican et jusqu'au grand rabbin dénoncent le geste «unilatéral» de l'Italie. Ils estiment qu'avant de les refouler, il aurait fallu vérifier que ces réfugiés ne bénéficiaient pas du droit d'asile. Le président de la Chambre des députés Gianfranco Fini, pourtant membre de la majorité au pouvoir, est du même avis. >>> Richard Heuzé, à Rome | Mardi 12 Mai 2009