French anti-war protesters vandalise British war cemetery

There has been widespread disgust voiced today after anti-war graffiti was daubed across a war memorial in France commemorating the sacrifice of 11,000 Commonwealth troops in the First World War.

The Etaples cemetery, near Bologne, was defaced with numerous anti-British and anti-war statements in large red paint – one read "Saddam will win and spill your blood" and another read "Death to Yankees".

In a statement the Commonwealth War Graves Commission said: "[We] share the disgust and dismay expressed by many people at the recent act of vandalism in Etaples Military Cemetery, France, in protest at the war in Iraq. The cemetery… is a place of commemoration ill fitted to such protests.

"The paint on one of the central features in the cemetery was quickly removed by the Commission's staff and the French authorities, who share the Commission's shock and concern, have launched an immediate investigation into the incident."

(GMcG)