This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7186969.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
French PM deplores Corsica unrest | French PM deplores Corsica unrest |
(about 8 hours later) | |
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has condemned the actions of Corsican nationalists after seeing the island's fire-damaged parliament building. | |
He said the nationalists' actions were "delinquent" and "indescribable". | |
Several offices were damaged at the parliament in Ajaccio on Saturday, after nationalist demonstrators had broken into the building. | Several offices were damaged at the parliament in Ajaccio on Saturday, after nationalist demonstrators had broken into the building. |
The office of regional council chairman Ange Santini was gutted. No-one was hurt and the fire was quickly put out. | The office of regional council chairman Ange Santini was gutted. No-one was hurt and the fire was quickly put out. |
Prime Minister Fillon, quoted by the French news agency AFP, vowed that those responsible would face justice. | |
On Saturday night shots were fired at the facade of the main justice building in Ajaccio. | |
A small explosion also occurred on Saturday at an army office in the northern city of Bastia - again without causing casualties. | |
Corsica has been the scene of a campaign of generally low-level separatist violence for three decades. | Corsica has been the scene of a campaign of generally low-level separatist violence for three decades. |
French politicians - including Corsicans - condemned the occupation of the parliament building and the fire, believed to have been started deliberately. | French politicians - including Corsicans - condemned the occupation of the parliament building and the fire, believed to have been started deliberately. |
But the nationalist Corsica Nazione Indipendente (CNI) party did not condemn the incident, the French news agency AFP reports. | But the nationalist Corsica Nazione Indipendente (CNI) party did not condemn the incident, the French news agency AFP reports. |
Earlier in the day, several hundred nationalists had staged a peaceful protest in Ajaccio's streets against French "repression". | Earlier in the day, several hundred nationalists had staged a peaceful protest in Ajaccio's streets against French "repression". |
Mr Santini also denounced "the attack carried out against democracy," saying "others probably haven't accepted the verdict of the ballot boxes". | Mr Santini also denounced "the attack carried out against democracy," saying "others probably haven't accepted the verdict of the ballot boxes". |
Most of the 51 deputies in the regional parliament issued a statement calling Saturday's incident "a serious attack on democracy". But eight deputies who are in a coalition of nationalists abstained from it. | Most of the 51 deputies in the regional parliament issued a statement calling Saturday's incident "a serious attack on democracy". But eight deputies who are in a coalition of nationalists abstained from it. |
Previous version
1
Next version