The French Parliament has passed a resolution condemning the niqab full-face veil and the burqa, paving the way for a legal ban.

In the pre-voting address to the parliament, French Justice Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said, "The government is determined to take all means to combat these practices which are contrary to the values of the republic," AFP reported.

The parliament's vote sets the stage for French President Nicolas Sarkozy's cabinet to draft a bill which imposes fines on women who wear the burqa and calls for the imprisonment of men who force their family members to veil their faces.

The law will also apply to female Muslim tourists who visit France.

The anti-burqa resolution has been passed despite warnings from France's State Council, which has said it is an unconstitutional move that will cause "division" among a nation which is home to Europe's largest Muslim minority.

Source:- http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=126205§ionid=351020603