New French Government Moves Against Roma Camps
French police have been dismantling illegal Roma (Gypsy) camps after the new Socialist government promised action on public health grounds.
Two camps near Lille were closed on Thursday morning, following similar moves in Paris and the Lyon area.
About 240 east European Roma were put on a flight to Bucharest after agreeing to return to Romania voluntarily.
Critics say the Socialists are copying the mass clearances under conservative ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Interior Minister Manuel Valls said in a statement on Wednesday that court orders to remove illegal camps would be executed “with firmness”.