Britain’s Sun Calls Chirac a Worm
A British tabloid ran a special Paris edition Thursday featuring a caricature of President Jacques Chirac as a worm, prompting his Cabinet ministers to denounce the paper as “disgusting” and “pathetic.”
The Sun special edition -- with the front-page headline “Chirac Is a Worm” in French -- hit Paris as the French head of state was welcoming leaders and delegates from 52 African nations for a summit.
“Aren’t you ashamed of your president?” it asked, referring to Chirac’s opposition to using force against Iraq.
“We in Britain also think that you in France have forgotten how much you owe to other nations, particularly America and Britain, for coming to your aid in two world wars,” said the tabloid, known for carrying photos of scantily clad women and celebrity gossip.
Transportation Minister Gilles de Robien said simply: “It’s disgusting.” Culture Minister Jean-Jacques Aillagon said he believed in free speech but felt that the edition was “an attack.”
“I think it’s extremely discourteous. It’s rather vulgar. It’s contemptuous of our country,” Aillagon said.
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