French Minister Christiane Taubira resigns amid terror row

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira has stepped down from her job, shortly before plans to strip people convicted of terrorism of their citizenship go before parliament. Ms Taubira was known to disagree with the controversial proposals.

Ms Taubira is one of France's few black politicians to have filled a senior ministerial role

The citizenship plans were put forward after the 13 November Paris attacks in which 130 people were murdered. "Sometimes staying on is resisting, sometimes resisting means leaving," she tweeted.


Ms Taubira, one of France's few senior black politicians, has been replaced by Jean-Jacques Urvoas who is seen as a supporter of the constitutional change and an ally of Prime Minister Manuel Valls.

Born in French Guiana, Ms Taubira, 63, has suffered racist taunts from the far-right during her time as justice minister.

Her left-wing leanings have put her increasingly at odds with official policy, especially after the November attacks - when the president announced a much tougher line on terrorism, BBC Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield reports.