PARIS, Dec 13: A national assembly of French Muslims, scheduled for Dec 19 and 20 in Nainville-les-Roches, is expected to prove explosive as many of the country’s Muslim leaders accuse Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy of having engaged in a “secret entente” in the signing earlier this week of an accord.

The accord between the interior ministry and the country’s three principal Muslim associations, the Federation nationale des musulmans de France, UOIF (Union des organisations Islamiques de France), and the Grande Mosquee de Paris, was signed last week.

The accord, when finalized and approved by the national assembly, should allow French Muslims to have the same rights and privileges until now possessed by the country’s other established religions, Catholicism, Protestantism and Judaism.

But, many community leaders allege that they were excluded from the negotiations from the accord, and think they should have their word to say in how representatives to the Conseil Francais du Culte Musulman (CFCM) are to be elected.

Earlier this year, Sarkozy, who besides being Interior Minister is also Minister of Religious Cults, proposed that only part of the new CFCM be elected, with other members appointed directly to the Council.

His intention was to prevent the forum from falling under the control of some of the country’s more militant and extremist organizations.

Among those who claim they were cut out of the drafting of the accord are the Grand Mufti of Marseilles, and authorities of Lyons.

Justifying his method, Sarkozy points to a poll taken of the French which, he says, demonstrates that “a large number of Frenchmen are fearful of Islam,” and therefore he felt the need for a consultative organisation.