French protest against Roma deportations

Protesters have gathered in their thousands in Paris and other French towns to demonstrate against the government's policy of deporting Roma people.

Some 1,000 Roma have been returned to Romania and Bulgaria from France in the past month, while official figures record that 11,000 Roma were expelled last year.

The expulsions have been criticised by many in the international community, including the UN, and President Sarkozy has also faced dissent from within his own cabinet over the issue.