BBC News Online: World: Europe

Far right pays birth bonus for French nationals

The far right authorities in the southern French town of Vitrolles say they are to pay a birth allowance of 800 dollars for every child born in the town -- provided it has at least one French or European parent.

The plans, which were announced by a senior National Front official, have been attacked as racist.

He said the move was in line with the National Front's policies for national preference and described it as a patriotic act.Vitrolles has a large immigrant population mostly made up of North Africans who would be not eligible for the allowance.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service