Jewish cemetery desecrated in France

At least 18 tombstones at Cronenbourg cemetery found marked with swastikas.

desecrated graves France (photo credit: AP)
desecrated graves France
(photo credit: AP)

A Jewish cemetery in eastern wasdesecrated Wednesday, with at least 18 gravestones marked with swastikas andoverturned, police and Jewish officials said.

The desecration in a cemetery came as Jews marked the 65th anniversary of the liberation of death camp.

's main Jewishorganization, CRIF, said at least 18 tombstones at the Cronenbourg cemeterywere found marked with swastikas and 13 of them were overturned.

The CRIF's Marc Knobel said theinscription "juden raus" (Jews out) was found on one tomb.

President Nicolas Sarkozy "firmlycondemns this unbearable act, the expression of odious racism," said astatement from his office. It asked that those responsible be quicklyidentified and their acts "treated with the severity called for."