The 23-year-old law student from Paris has been given permission to remain in the country just 24 hours but he has already threatened to defy the authorities and out-stay his welcome.

Mr Cohn-Bendit - who is a German citizen - was expelled from France on 21 May for being the ringleader of the French student demonstrations, which almost brought the country to a standstill last month.

Angry about the Vietnam war and political stagnation, he led the occupation of the university at Nanterre and students at the Sorbonne quickly followed.

The violence which police used to suppress the protesters brought French workers onto the streets in their support.

A "back me or sack me" speech from President Charles de Gaulle led only to more violence and eventually order was restored on 29 May when tanks were ordered onto the streets of the outskirts of Paris.

Fears of unrest

Mr Cohn-Bendit, also known as Danny the Red because of his red hair, has today staged a sit-in at the BBC's Television Centre building in Wood Lane, West London.

In an interview with the BBC, he denied coming to Britain to cause trouble and shrugged off news of death threats made against him.

He said: " Two years ago I came here and nobody said a word, it is strange, they are telling me I am only allowed to stay 24 hours.

"We don't care about frontiers and I don't know how long I will stay, it depends what I have to do. I don't see why I shouldn't stay longer. I think it's a free country."

Rioting has been continuing in France, though on a lesser scale than before. There has also been speculation the rebel student was planning to stir up trouble here.

Mr Cohn-Bendit said: "It is very interesting what people think I am doing. I should be really better than batman or superman. It's really amusing. They think I am organising world revolution."

He blamed the French police for provoking the protesters.

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