France to Continue Breaking up Illegal Roma Camps

Residents flown back to Romania

A French minister said Thursday authorities will continue to expel Roma who camp illegally in France as more than 100 were flown back to Romania from the central town of Lyon.

The Roma, bedraggled-looking women, men and babies, landed at the city's Henri Coanda airport, saying they had lived in camps, slept rough in the woods or in other accommodation. Some refused to talk with reporters and concealed their faces.

"We stayed in France to earn our daily bread. We begged, we searched through the garbage,"35-year-old Marin Lican said. "Here they must give us something to work. We need to have a place and something to do to earn some money. We have three kids."