France Expels Four Libyans as Threats to ‘Public Order’
France, facing criticism in the United States for refusing to allow U.S. planes to fly over its airspace during the Libya raids, today expelled four Libyans as possible troublemakers.
Security Minister Robert Pandraud said the four will be forced to leave the country soon because their actions are “likely to trouble public order.”
The government would not say where the Libyans will be sent or precisely why they are being expelled. They were not identified.
On April 5, France ordered two Libyan Embassy officials to leave the country because of contacts with individuals who planned to attack American targets in France. That move was praised by Washington, but the refusal to assist in Tuesday’s raid brought criticism not only from the United States--whose airmen had to use a longer and more dangerous route--but also from domestic allies of conservative Premier Jacques Chirac.
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