Bomb squads defused three explosive devices planted Friday at tourist areas in France's southwest Basque region on the Atlantic coast, AP quoted officials as saying. Rescue services received an anonymous phone call before dawn, warning that bombs had been left at five tourist sites in the Basque country near France's border with Spain, the prefecture in the southwestern Pyrenees Atlantiques region said. The devices were «weak and defective,» the prefecture said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. About 1,200 people were evacuated from the sites. A search turned up three explosive devices, the prefecture said. Bomb squads defused one at the vacation village in Arcangues and another targeting the rail line in Ondres. Another bomb was found at a site not mentioned by the caller. It was defused as well. The prefecture said police did not find the other devices mentioned by the caller and that authorities would remain cautious until they determined all the bombs had been found. A statement from French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie's office said she had asked police to use all means to find those responsible «so they can be arrested and brought to trial with a view to punishment that she hopes will serve as an example.»
