- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Anti-Sarkozy protests continue as president goes on holiday

Subscribe
Nicolas Sarkozy left France for a short break Monday after his victory in last weekend's polls, but violent protests against the hardline president-elect show no signs of abating.
PARIS, May 8 (RIA Novosti) - Nicolas Sarkozy left France for a short break Monday after his victory in last weekend's polls, but violent protests against the hardline president-elect show no signs of abating.

Youngsters in Paris and other cities across France took to the streets late Sunday to protest the election of the former interior minister, who heavy-handedly suppressed riots in ethnically mixed suburbs in the fall of 2005. The protesters chanted anti-Sarkozy slogans, branding him a "fascist." Overnight, they torched a total of 730 cars and injured 78 policemen.

Disturbances resumed Monday evening, with several hundred youths going on the rampage in Paris' Place de la Bastille, torching cars and smashing shop windows, phone booths and bus shelters.

Similar protests reportedly took place in northern and northwestern France, including Lille, Nantes and Rennes, and riot police had to use tear gas to disperse the violent crowds.

Ahead of the May 6 runoff, Socialist Segolene Royal warned French electors against voting for her Conservative rival, saying he would bring a climate of brutality to France, with tougher measures against juvenile delinquency and illegal immigration high on his campaign agenda.

Sarkozy, who escaped to an undisclosed destination early Monday, was later spotted sailing with his family on a yacht off Malta's coast. He is expected back in Paris later this week, to take over the Elysee from President Jacques Chirac May 16.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала