Sarkozy wants to strip immigrant criminals of nationality

Paris: President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Monday he will seek a law to strip immigrants who have been French for less than 10 years of their nationality if they kill or try to kill police or public officials.

By calling for legislation, Sarkozy signalled his determination to push ahead with a tough crackdown on immigrant criminals, despite an international outcry and claims that he is pandering to far-right voters.

But his statement tempered a threat that a conviction for polygamy could also see foreign-born Frenchmen losing their citizenship. Instead, rules will be tightened to prevent them claiming welfare benefits for multiple wives.

The statement from the president's office said the government would draft a law "as soon as possible" to give judges "the possibility to withdraw French nationality, within 10 years of the granting of French nationality, to those who deliberately endanger the life of a person invested with public authority, particularly a police officer."

The government will also seek legislation "to facilitate the deportation of foreigners in irregular situations including, in some circumstances, citizens of the European Union", the statement said.