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Slovenia PM defends Gypsies relocation

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Slovenia's prime minister said he plans to build a new settlement for a relocated Gypsy family once flaring tempers cool.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa told state-run Ljubljana Television the relocation of the 31 members, including 14 children, of the Gypsy family is the least-bad solution.

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Wednesday, hundreds of villagers in eastern Slovenia protested the government's decision to move the Gypsy family close to their village, while in Ljubljana hundreds of rights groups supporters condemned the government for the "pogrom and deportation" of the Gypsies.

Vigilantes blocked approaches to the Ambrus area, in eastern Slovenia, from where the Gypsy family was moved some 30 miles to a former military barracks late in October.

The government organized the move to the barracks after villagers in Ambrus threatened to kill the Gypsies.

Jansa said once the tempers return to normal the government is to build a "legal settlement" for the Gypsy family.

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