France Smokers divided on ban
(AP)


<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/health/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070201/ap_on_re_eu/france_no_smoking"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070131/capt.xjb10601311227.france_no_smoking_xjb106.jpg?x=130&y=86&sig=pZKMQAaF5hzvj5xqzfNI2g--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="Employees smoke outside the entrance of an office building in the complex of La Defense, a congregation of office towers where many of France's major corporations are based in the west of Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007. France's health minister expressed optimism that the public will respect a new ban on smoking in offices and other public areas set to begin Thursday, but acknowledged there could be violators. Pro-smoking groups complain that the ban tramples on individual freedoms, and say enforcement will be tricky. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)" border="0" /></a>AP - A ban on smoking in public spaces came into effect Thursday, a change that may alter the image of a country defined in part by its smoky cafes and cigarette-puffing intellectuals.</p><br clear="all"/>