Outcry as French Socialist blasts black soccer players

PARIS, Nov 16 (Reuters) A French Socialist official sparked an outcry today with reported comments that he felt ashamed most of France's national soccer players were black, upsetting his party as it voted on its presidential candidate.

Georges Freche, president of the southern Languedoc-Roussillon region, known for his outspoken remarks, was quoted by a newspaper as saying he was sorry nine out of 11 players in France's national team were black.

''I'm ashamed for this country. Soon, there will be 11 black (players),'' Le Midi Libre quoted Freche as saying.

Freche's party colleagues, rights groups and political opponents, including conservative President Jacques Chirac, condemned the comments.

''The Republic guarantees the equality of citizens without distinction of origin or religion,'' Chirac said in a statement.

Freche's comments came as his party's members voted for their candidate for next year's presidential election, choosing between regional leader Segolene Royal, the frontrunner, former finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn and former prime minister Laurent Fabius.

''(All candidates) must distance themselves, clearly and politically, from these comments, in particular Segolene Royal, who has the support of Georges Freche,'' Jean-Luc Melenchon, an aide to Fabius, said.

Freche said in September the Socialist section in his region would largely support Royal.

Freche was suspended from some party functions for calling ''harkis'' -- Algerians who fought alongside the French in Algeria's war of independence -- ''sub-human'' in February.

REUTERS PDS PM0134