A proposed law banning Muslim headscarves in state schools in France has passed its final parliamentary stage.
The French Senate passed the bill late last night by an overwhelming 276-20 majority. The National Assembly - the lower house - had already approved the law by 494 to 36 votes.
The controversial ban, which targets headscarves but also outlaws Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses, comes into effect in September.
"We wanted to send a swift and strong message," Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said of the law, adding he had "neither the feeling nor the conceit to believe that this text has solved everything.
"Our plan is not aimed against any religion," he declared, defending the law against criticism it received from France's Muslims and other religious groups, Islamic countries and Pope John Paul.
French Education Minister Luc Ferry has announced he will meet leaders of all concerned religious groups to see if they can work out compromises within the new law.
Dalil Boubakeur, head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), has urged him to let schoolgirls wear a small bandanna in place of the voluminous scarves that cover their hair, ears, throats and shoulders.
France's 5,000-strong Sikh community, initially overlooked in the debate, will also negotiate with the ministry to let boys keep their traditional head coverings at school.
Leaders of France's five million Muslims see the law as deeply discriminatory and feel politicians used the headscarf to mobilise voters before this month's regional elections.