Excerpt:
The interior minister Claude Guéant has been accused of Islamophobia and dishonouring France after saying the growing population of Muslims in the country 'poses problems'.
His comments were made on the eve of a debate within his party, the UMP, on Islam and secularism in France.
The debate, organised by party leader Jean-François Copé, is itself controversial, with many party figures finding excuses not to attend, including Prime Minister François Fillon.