Communist to open fair

Paris - The organisers of a tourism fair in Deauville next Sunday bowed to political pressure yesterday and invited the Minister of Tourism, Ms Michelle Demessine, to inaugurate the fair after initially not asking her.Last week, Mr Jean-Francois Alexandre, the Top Resa fair's organiser, said he would not invite Ms Demessine because she is a communist Minister in the socialist government. He added: "With the exception of China, Cuba and North Korea, we would have been the only tourist fair to be opened by a communist minister."His remarks caused a political storm with the French Prime, Mr Lionel Jospin, condemning the move.