France's hard-line new immigration minister is set to implement legislation that would allow DNA testing of new arrivals, he has said. Eric Besson, who was appointed this month, said the tests would establish which foreigners were claiming visas by making up family ties with those already settled in the country.
Civil liberties groups have reacted furiously to the controversial government scheme, which was approved by the French parliament 15 months ago but does not come into effect until the appropriate Minister has signed the legislation. Protests had delayed that move until now.