France's Sarkozy accused of abusing police powers over scooter theft probe |
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Tue, 30 Jan 2007 18:38
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PARIS (AFX) - A key political opponent has accused right-wing French presidential candidate and Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy of abusing police powers after officers made a special effort to find the thieves of his son's scooter.'This kind of thing happens every day in France, without warranting this kind of police deployment,' said Francois Bayrou, a centrist contender in the April election. 'We are living in a country of double-standards.'Earlier this month, police carried out DNA tests to bring charges against three youths accused of stealing a scooter belonging to Sarkozy's teenage son.The vehicle turned up 10 days later in the rundown Paris suburb of Bobigny.A police officer, asked about the operation, said the case was handled using 'classic methods', but a spokesman for a French bikers' federation said it was unheard of for police to use DNA tests over a simple bike theft.A small French police union, Action-police CFTC, also called for a parliamentary inquiry into the case, which it said gave the 'unacceptable' impression that the police were at Sarkozy's beck and call.On a visit to London where he met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the right-wing Sarkozy dismissed the criticism.'Frankly, the campaign should not lend itself to such stupid and petty attacks,' said the interior minister.'The police are doing their work. I would ask you to leave my children out of this.'Sarkozy is already under pressure from the opposition Socialists - whose candidate Segolene Royal is lagging in the polls - to leave his ministry to level the playing field in the presidential campaign.An Ipsos poll due to be released on Thursday shows Sarkozy widening his lead against Royal, garnering 54 pct of votes in a second round runoff compared to 46 pct for the Socialist contender.newsdesk@afxnews.comafp/jmsCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2006. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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