France and Poland Outraged at Arrest of Roman Polanski

The arrest of film director Roman Polanski has been met with protest from France and Poland. The country's political elite, artist and film makers have banded together to urge Switzerland to release Polanski, who was arrested on charges of sexual molestation.

Polanski had been due to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Zurich Film Festival but instead, was promptly arrested upon his arrival Saturday. The cause was due to a 1978 US arrest warrant which charged him of having sex with a minor, a 13-year-old girl, in 1977.

He pleaded guilty to the crime but subsequently fled from the US. Polanski has since avoided countries where he would be extradited, such as the United Kingdom.

French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand and French President Nicolas Sarkozy were both stunned by the news and demand Polanksi be returned to his family. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that he might appeal directly to the US for clemency.

The director was born in Poland but also holds French citizenship since he is married to French singer-actress Emmanuelle Seigner.

Poland's filmmakers association has considered the arrest a scandal and an example of "incomprehensible overzealousness," said association president, Jacek Bromski.