World Bulletin / News Desk

French police armed with tear gas, batons and sticks evacuated 50 Roma squatters living in a derelict building in eastern city of Lyon on Monday.

France’s decision to forcibly evacuate Roma camps has been criticised by the UN Commission and other non-governmental organizations in the country.

It is estimated that approximately 20,000 Roma people have settled in France, mainly from Romania and Bulgaria.

France's socialist government is pursuing a rigid policy on Roma people, continuing a previous policy first introduced by conservative Sarkozy government within the scope of a major clearance program.