17/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - Just before the plenary session on Thursday 13 December in Strasbourg, MEPs demonstrated their support for the ushers with sustained applause. The presidents of the political groups took a stance against the verbal and physical attacks against certain ushers the day before by MEPs calling for a referendum to be held during the signing of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. During the Charter signing ceremony, the president of the EP had called on the ushers to inform the MEPs concerned that they should stop demonstrating and put their banners away. The ushers were then violently insulted by some far right and far left MEPs. The presidents of the various groups described such behaviour as unacceptable and called for an apology, and said that, if no apology was forthcoming there should be sanctions against those involved. (B.C.)