French officials support Roman Polanski

ZURICH, Switzerland, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- French officials said they are hoping for a "favorable resolution" to filmmaker Roman Polanski's recent arrest on a 1970s sex charge.

Polanski, 76, was arrested in Switzerland during the weekend after U.S. authorities asked Swiss police to execute a warrant in the Oscar winner's decades-old rape case.

The famous film director, who was born in and lives in France, has not traveled to the United States since he pleaded guilty in a Los Angeles court to having unlawful sex with a minor in 1977 and then fled the country before he could be sentenced. He was accused of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl.

CNN quoted French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner as saying he hoped authorities would

respect Polanski's rights "and that the affair (will) come to a favorable resolution."

The French culture and communications minister, Frederic Mitterrand, recalled in an interview with CNN how he "learned with astonishment" of Polanski's arrest, adding the filmmaker "benefits from great general esteem."

Mitterrand also said he has been in touch with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Sarkozy "shares his hope for a rapid resolution to the situation which would allow Roman Polanski to rejoin his family as quickly as

possible."

Polanski's films include "The Pianist," "Tess," "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby."