To chants of “Gaddafi, predator,” Reporters Without Borders protesters urge Sarkozy to be firmer on human rights

Around 15 Reporters Without Borders activists staged a protest near the National Assembly in Paris shortly after 11 a.m. today as parliamentarians were preparing to receive Libyan “Supreme Guide” Muammar Gaddafi on the second day of his five-day official visit to France. The demonstrators chanted “Gaddafi, predator” and “Human rights flouted.” They waved placards and a banner urging the French government to be firmer with the Libyan leader about rights and freedom in his country. And they handed out leaflets headlined “Gaddafi in Paris - contracts and nothing else?” The text added: “Muammar Gaddafi and Nicolas Sarkozy are going to sign trade contracts. France should also demand freedoms.” Reporters Without Borders believes that human rights issues should not be ignored for the sake of business deals during this visit by the Libyan leader, who is on the organisation's list of the world's worst “press freedom predators.” Police stopped the Reporters Without Borders protesters as they headed down Rue de l'Université towards the National Assembly entrance, where Gaddafi's arrival was being awaited. Later, the protesters were stopped again at the Esplanade des Invalides by gendarmes, who made them wait there for two hours before letting them move on.