[muchlove]

French film beauty BRIGITTE BARDOT has blasted the Romanian government for condoning a cull of stray dogs after a Japanese businessman was bitten to death by one in Bucharest.

The actress-turned-animal rights activist launched her attack on a Radio France show, slamming Bucharest mayor ADRIEAN VIDEANU's move to cut the time stray animals are detained in shelters before being put down as sickening.

She said, "When I think that the only way that has been found is to kill them, I tell you it's not nice what the government is doing."

The 68-year-old Japanese tourist bled to death in the city last Sunday (29JAN06) after a stray dog - one of up to 100,000 in the capital - bit him in the leg.

Bardot previously pledged to donate $150,000 (GBP85,000) to fund a mass sterilisation programme designed to reduce strays on the street, but Romanian President TRAIAN BASESCU abandoned the venture after just a month in favour of further culls.

contactmusic