France's interior minister convicted of making racist comments, fined euro750
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}PARIS (AP) — France's top law enforcement official has been convicted of making racist comments, fined euro750 ($900) and ordered to pay a further euro2,000 to an anti-racism group.
Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux's lawyer said he would appeal.
Hortefeux was caught on camera last year making what sounded like anti-Arab remarks. Hortefeux insists his words were innocent and were misconstrued.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A court in Paris convicted him Friday of "private insults of a racial nature."
The incident prompted calls for Hortefeux's resignation. Hortefeux is a longtime friend of President Nicolas Sarkozy and a former immigration minister.