The decision was announced by The French President at the Elysse Palace yesterday following a cabinet meeting.

The meeting was called to discuss clash between the police and Gypsies in Saint Aignan, Central France last week in protest at the death of a 22-year-old who was shot by police.

President Sarkozy said those responsible for the riots would be severly punished as he ordered "systematic evacuation" all illegal Roma people in France along with dismantling their camps.  The President is keen to change French immigration laws that enables the Government to expel people for reasons of public disorder.

Mr. Sarkozy called the camps sources of trafficking, exploitation of children and prostitution.  "Within the next three months, half of the illegal camps will be dismantled - camps and squats - that is to say some 300,"said the French Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux while his colleague the Europe Minister claimed that crime by Roma are "rising by 140% in Paris" since 2007.

Today ... I am afraid we're preparing to open a blighted page in the history of France, which could sadly lead to acts of reprisal in the days ahead," said lawyer Henri Braun said at a Wednesday news conference by French Roma leaders. "There is a huge problem of racism in France towards this population, there is enormous discrimination."

Human rights groups have condemned the President not only for the action but also the words chosen by the French head of State.

A statement from the French Human Rights League said"The president of the republic has stigmatised Roma and ‘travelling people' in a racist way, by creating an unacceptable amalgamation of a few individuals with entire communities, and announcing plans for ethnically targeted evictions of illegal settlements" while some others have threatened to sue Mr. Sarkozy for inciting racial hatred.