[ProfondoXxRosso]

Switzerland's artists, film directors and writers have angrily condemned the government for arresting Polanski, calling the action a "grotesque farce of injustice" and a cultural "scandal" that will bring Switzerland into disrepute.

The full story below:
"Roman Polanski, the film director, has been arrested in Switzerland in connection with a charge of having sexual relations with an underage girl.

The 76 year-old director is being questioned by police in Zurich over a 1978 arrest warrant issued in America.

He was in the Swiss City for the Zurich Film Festival and due to receive an award on Sunday.

But detectives took him into custody after raiding his hotel.

Two months ago Polanski asked a California appeals court to overturn a judge's refusal to consider his request to throw out a 1977 case in which he pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Polanski, who now lives permanently in Paris, fled America in 1978 before he was sentenced and is considered an international fugitive.

He has not re-entered the country since then, but appealed to have the guilty verdict overturned on the basis of alleged misconduct.

Polanski's lawyers alleged that the original trial judge, who is now deceased, improperly colluded with prosecutors.

The director would have risked arrest if he returned to the United States. His legal team said at the time of the judge's refusal that they planned to appeal against the decision."