The families gathered here are part of a community of about 18, 000 Roma known as Kalaidzhi, who traditionally make a living as coppersmiths.

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"When we were talking (to Roma) about Aquilani we knew he was recovering from an operation and would not be able to play for the first weeks of the season, " admitted Benitez.

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The jokes, about the country's Roma minority, were made during an election road show touring the Czech Republic four months ahead of the elections.

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Her 1988 autobiography, We Live in Seclusion, and a film made about her, drew international attention to the plight of the Roma in the past and present, our correspondent adds.

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But Mr Ionescu said the Romanian state had no strategy of integrating the Roma, which officially numbered 535, 000 - about 2.5% of the population - but was thought to total over a million.

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