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Horsemeat shop

draws protest

from animal rights

activist Bardot

PARIS: Ex-film star Brigitte Bardot lashed out Friday at a British butcher for setting up a horse-meat shop to profit from the mad cow scare, and called on Britons to show their "nobleness" and boycott the trade.

In "an open letter to the English people, to gentlemen and to those who have always protected and loved horses," she said she was horrified by the case of Bob Walker, who has set up one of the first horsemeat shops in Britain since World War II, in Smethwick, West Midlands.

"My dear friends: It was with horror and astonishment that I have learned of an individual... who has had the audacity and cruelty to profit from the terrible problem affecting the English livestock."

"We are not 'cannibals,' and being so-called civilized people, it seems difficult if not impossible to eat 'the most noble conquest of man,'" said the actress turned animal rights campaigner in the English-language letter faxed to the media.

She appealed to the "nobleness" and "dignity" of the English people not to follow the example of France, which she said was "undignified" in eating horse-meat.

"For the past 20 years I have fought to end this abominable tradition in my country, France. The commerce has decreased by 40 percent since the anti-horse-meat campaign began.

"Please do not follow our example! Do not lose sight of your dignity and your personality. These are qualities for which we like and respect you and which have provided the world with an example to follow.

"I count on your nobleness to stop this disgraceful and useless commerce... Please do not become undignified like us," she said.

The 61-year-old former actress was writing on behalf of the Fondation Brigitte Bardot, which has in the past taken up the causes of a variety of animals including notably baby seals, pigeons and wild boars.-AFP