Polanski's arrest sparks shock, outrage...

Government ministers, movie directors, writers and intellectuals expressed shock and outrage Sunday after the detention of Oscar winning director Roman Polanski in Switzerland on three-decade-old child sex charges.

France and Poland are to ask the United States to drop the charges and consider a presidential pardon over the case, Poland's PAP news agency said, though Polanski has already acknowledged he had sex with the 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles in 1977.

Polanski, 76, was detained in Switzerland on Saturday as he arrived to attend the Zurich film festival, where he was due to receive a special award on Sunday.

Switzerland's Justice Ministry has said Polanski could be extradited following a US request for his detention. More...

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1. Anger in France and Poland after Polanski arrest...