France began its controversial expulsion of around 700 Roma to Romania and Bulgaria on Thursday, amid rising criticism of President Nicolas Sarkozy's clampdown on the minority. A planeload of around 60 Roma who agreed to the "voluntary return procedure" left Lyon airport for Bucharest in the afternoon, the first expulsion since Sarkozy last month vowed action against Roma, Gypsy and traveller communities. Duration: 00:49.
