Bardot Sues O.A.S. On Extortion Note

Press, Volume C, Issue 29685, 1 December 1961, Page 13

Bardot Sues O.A.S. On Extortion Note

(N .2 J , -A.-R«ut«r—Copvnoht) PARIS, November 30. The French film star, Brigitte Bardot, has become involved in the struggle over Algeria, where nine Moslems were lynched and 30 others wounded yesterday in riots in Oran.

Police announced that Miss Bardot had received a demand note from the underground Secret Army Organisation for about 50.000 new francs (about £3600).

She had replied by instructing her lawyers to file a complaint against “X” (or parties unknown) for an attempt to extort money.

She had also sent a copy of the OA.S, letter to “L'Expreas,” the Left-wing weekly, copies of which have been seized because of an article it contains.

By defying the demand* of the 0.A.5., Miss Bardot is believed in some circles to have laid herself open to the possibility of a plastic bomb outrage. In her letter to the intellectual weekly, which favours an independent Algeria and has been conducting a campaign against the O.AS. terrorists, she wrote: "I send you this letter which I have received from the 0.A.8., so that you may use it in the most effective manner in your fight against this organisation."

“I am convinced that the authors and inspirers of this kind of letter -vill be rapidlv rendered incapable of harming anyone if everywhere they run up against a blunt and public refusal on the part of people ‘hey are trying to terrorise with their threats and their terror attacks.

“In any case, I am not going to accept it, became I have no desire to live in a Nazi country” she said. The British United Press reported from Paris that it was doubted that seizure of copies of “L’Express" had any connexion with Mias Bardot’s letter.

Many other prominent French men and women have received demanding letters from the 0.A.5., which is violently opposed to President de Gaulle's Algerian policy. This was believed to be the first time that any of the scores of prominent people known to nave received the duplicated O-A3. circulars demanding money has taken legal action against the organisation. Reuter reported that, Oran, in western Algeria, lay under curfew early trday after re-venge-seeking European settlers rioted through the town yesterday, lynching, wounding, and beating Mos-

lesns. Five European* were wounded in the riots, which started after a European was killed by Moslem gunmen. Police used tear gat and an 8 pun. curfew was imposed before order was restored in the town, which for week* has been the scene of incidents between the two races.

From Paris it was reported that a special shock brigade would be included in 200 police reinforcements being sent to Algeria to step up the hunt tor the former general, Raoul Salan and other members of the O.A.S. A Government spokesman said about 13 arrests were made on Monday in a big anti-O.A.S. drive in the Relizane area of western Algeria.