Uproar in France over shredded euro confetti 02/08/2006 00:00

SETE, France, Aug 1, 2006 (AFP) - The showering of French newlyweds with confetti made from bank notes caused uproar among local citizens in a town in southern France but the flashy gesture turns out to have been a cheap trick -- the money was defective and destined for the incinerator.

The saga began on July 8 when wedding guests threw confetti over the couple made from cut-up euro banknotes, but in true French style outraged locals formed a collective and called for a reaction from officials.

"It's revolting that people have to see their minimum wage turned into confetti lying on the street," one member of the collective said.

A revolution was avoided, however, with news that the notes were in fact defective and had been earmarked for disposal by the Bank of France, and that they had been procured by a friend of the happy -- but, presumably, not stinking rich -- couple.

Copyright AFP

Subject: French news