In 1789, the Bretons fought against the French revolution and suffered repression of their native language by French central government.

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In the 11 stones, Richard Dixon kept ahead of this year's Bretons, who were there in force at that weight.

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All of which means that Mr Jospin is suddenly under pressure to defend his plan against accusations, from most of the right and some of the left, that it is not just soft on terrorists but is also unleashing a separatist spirit which, by encouraging the Basques, the Bretons, the Alsatians and others, risks dismembering the republic.

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