Europe News

Report: French gay groups under surveillance ahead of papal visit

Sep 3, 2008, 12:08 GMT

Paris - French police have placed radical gay militants under surveillance ahead of the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to France on September 12-15, the daily Le Figaro reported on Wednesday. Eager to avoid a repeat of the condom shower that greeted the Pope in Sydney, Australia, in July, certain gay activist groups such as Act Up are being closely watched in the run-up to the visit. In addition, because of threats to the Pope made in May 2007 by the terrorist network al-Qaeda and the recent terrorist attacks in Algeria, French security officers will be placed on maximum alert during his stay in Paris and the pilgrimage site of Lourdes. Some 6,000 police and other security forces will be covering the event, a deployment of unprecedented scale, the daily said. During the Pope's visit to Lourdes, an AWACS aircraft, fighter-jets and anti-missile batteries will seal off airspace extending some 20 kilometers around the city.

And Also

What's the Truth About Brangelina? - PopEater
no articles available.
- The Tech Herald
Jennie Garth throwing a Garden Party, Zucchini and Eggplant need not apply, the interview
Lil Wayne Skips Prison with Toothache - PopEater
Johnny Depp death hoax and similar schemes explained - The Tech Herald

Europe News

Report: French gay groups under surveillance ahead of papal visit

And Also

Your Talkback on this Story

Similar articles

Latest Headlines in Europe

Older Talkback

From Sites we Like

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print