Fury at war crime ruling

French publishers have expressed their anger following a court ruling against Editions Plon-Perrin and one of its authors over a controversial book about the Algerian war of the 1950s.

Editions Plon-Perrin chairman Olivier Orban and managing director Xavier de Bartillat were each fined €15,000 (£9,200), double the €7,500 fine imposed on former French general Paul Aussaresses for his book Services Spéciaux: Algérie 1955–57.

The book, in which Mr Aussaresses confesses to torturing Algerians, was deemed by the court to be an apology for his behaviour.

"This is an absurd case of censorship," said Mr Orban. "The court does not seem to understand what publishing is and how it works."

Mr Orban added that "restrictive" French laws governing freedom of expression were used to censor texts.

Editions Plon-Perrin has lodged an appeal against the ruling, and the literature committee of the National Publishers Association (Syndicat National de l'Edition) is expected to draw up a White Paper on relations between publishing and the law.