France's Le Pen defends masturbation comments
Paris - French far-right presidential candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen on Sunday defended his recommendation that young people should be encouraged to masturbate rather than be provided with condoms.
Le Pen first made the suggestion at a forum organised by the glossy magazine Elle on Thursday. Several presidential candidates were invited to speak at the day-long event to discuss "what women want".
His comments angered the audience of women and students at the elite Paris university where the event was held.
"When they asked me, whether I agreed with the distribution of condoms to young secondary school children, I said listen... they could always use the 'manu militari' method," he said on TV5 television.
"It's much less dangerous than using condoms."
Le Pen, who shocked France by finishing second in the 2002 elections, is lying in fourth place according to polls ahead of the first round vote on April 22.
Polls indicate his support has risen slightly in recent days, helped by a renewed focus in the campaign on immigration and security issues.
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=nw20070408215441188C389306
Paris - French far-right presidential candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen on Sunday defended his recommendation that young people should be encouraged to masturbate rather than be provided with condoms.
Le Pen first made the suggestion at a forum organised by the glossy magazine Elle on Thursday. Several presidential candidates were invited to speak at the day-long event to discuss "what women want".
His comments angered the audience of women and students at the elite Paris university where the event was held.
"When they asked me, whether I agreed with the distribution of condoms to young secondary school children, I said listen... they could always use the 'manu militari' method," he said on TV5 television.
"It's much less dangerous than using condoms."
Le Pen, who shocked France by finishing second in the 2002 elections, is lying in fourth place according to polls ahead of the first round vote on April 22.
Polls indicate his support has risen slightly in recent days, helped by a renewed focus in the campaign on immigration and security issues.
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=nw20070408215441188C389306
