New closure orders do not target Roma

THE INTERIOR ministry has performed a U-turn and issued fresh orders over gypsy camp closures that no longer target Roma travellers.

The new decree comes after a leaked memo, signed on behalf of interior minister Brice Hortefeux, ordered prefects to close illegal camps, "in particular Roma ones".

The opposition Socialist Party and immigration groups denounced the memo, saying the policy of targeting a specific ethnic group was illegal.

Mr Hortefeux issued a new document yesterday, "personally signed” by himself, which says camps should be cleared “whoever the occupants are”.

Immigration minister Eric Besson, who had insisted that Roma were not being targeted, has said he was unaware of the interior ministry's decree at the time.

However the general secretary of the governing UMP Party, Xavier Bertrand, said the government should accept responsibility because the content was “in line with our policies”.

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