Civil liberty groups and left-wing organisations in France have criticised a proposed domestic security law which toughens penalties against migrants, beggars and prostitutes.

A statement endorsed by political parties - including the Socialists and Greens - accuses the centre-right government of declaring war on the poor and turning France into an authoritarian state.

The text creates a Republic where poverty is turned into a crime and where the expression of revolt becomes a crime

Joint statement

The Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, is proposing prison terms against nomads who occupy private land, as well as some beggars and those who exploit them.

The bill, which is due to be presented to the cabinet on Wednesday, also bans most forms of street prostitution, and punishes clients when the prostitutes are disabled, pregnant, or considered vulnerable in any other way.

Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin's government came to power earlier this year on a tough anti-crime platform.

Since then, Mr Sarkozy has announced a series of measures to fight crime and to curb illegal immigration.

Sarkozy has been at the forefront of the fight against crime

Some 30 organisations including trades unions, associations, and left-wing parties and human rights organisations accuse the government of "waging a war against the poor".

"It is not the poor who should be fought, it is poverty!" the statement said.

"Fighting against crime involves repressing when it is necessary, but also pre-empt, educate, restore public services everywhere, rebuild life where it no longer exists and re-establish links of solidarity which have disappeared."

The statement says that the bill, "if adopted, could lead to an authoritarian state and to the repression of all those who have had the misfortune of being left on the roadside."

"Because it targets without distinction beggars, the homeless, young people, travellers, prostitutes, activists who may conduct protests, the text creates a Republic where poverty is turned into a crime and where the expression of revolt becomes a crime," says the statement.

The statement's signatories call for French citizens to oppose the text by taking to the streets in a series of demonstrations and petitions throughout the country.