(21 Nov 1998) Eng/French/Nat
Thousands of illegal immigrants have taken to the streets of Paris to protest against the French government's immigration policy.
The immigrants, known in French as "Sans Papiers" because of their lack of official documents, want the government to grant them residence in France.
Around five-thousand illegal immigrants marched through the streets of Paris on Saturday demanding the government grant them resident status.
The protest - just one of many in cities all over France this weekend - was supported by unions and anti-racist groups.
In June 1997, Lionel Jospin's Socialist government gave 76-thousand immigrants the right to live in France.
But another 64-thousand applications were rejected last year.
Saturday's protest sought to bring their plight to public attention.
The Greens, represented by Environment Minister Dominique Voynet, have called for the government to provide residency status for all illegal immigrants.
A party spokesman at the march made the Greens' position clear.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"They have promises from the government and the government didn't keep these promises. We need to fulfill the hope of these people who are here for a long time in our country now."
SUPER CAPTION: Noel Mamere, Green Party deputy
One of the main targets of the protest, which was vocal but peaceful, was French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.
Demonstrators accused him of double standards towards the immigrants.
SOUNDBITE: (French)
"When a government is confronted by a popular movement, whether it's a strike or an immigrant demonstration, they always fall back on the old cliches about agitators and irresponsible people."
SUPER CAPTION: Professor Leon Schwratzenberg, Demonstrator
Jospin has been more generous in granting residency permits to illegal immigrants than the previous Conservative government.
But the far right National Front, which blames high unemployment on immigrants, has accused Jospin of being too soft on the issue.
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