Paris festival called off after anti-American threats
A Paris festival celebrating US music and culture has been called off following a series of anti-American threats, organisers said on Sunday.
Called "Three Days in America", the festival featuring country and gospel concerts, line-dancing, sales of US paraphernalia and a tribute to Elvis Presley was to take place from May 26 to 28 in Saint Cloud, southwest of Paris.
Organisers issued a statement saying they were forced to postpone the event following "persistent pressure and threats of an anti-American nature".
"At first we thought it was a joke when we received a letter with a mixture of threats, mentioning Al-Qaeda and full of spelling mistakes," said Chantal Tenot, the festival's press officer.
But after several threatening phone calls the organisers decided Friday to file a police complaint and call off the event.
Paris anti-terrorism investigators have been alerted and the festival organisers are to meet foreign ministry officials on Monday to discuss the situation, Tenot said.
She said the organisers hoped to reschedule the festival -- which last year drew 15,000 visitors -- in the autumn.
France
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