France begins Roma deportations

France has begun to deport Roma (Gypsies) as part of a crackdown on illegal camps in the country.

Romanian officials said they expected two flights carrying a total of 93 Roma to land in Bucharest by the end of Thursday.

The French government says it plans to shut down 300 illegal Roma camps in the next three months in what it calls a "decent and humane" policy of removing people from deplorable conditions.