A sculpture of an Algerian military hero was vandalised on Saturday in central France, hours before it was inaugurated, reports the BBC.
The artwork, which was commissioned to mark 60 years of Algerian independence from France, depicts Emir Abdelkader, once dubbed "France's worst enemy".
Abdelkader led the struggle against the French invasion of Algeria in 1830.
He was imprisoned for four years in the French town of Amboise, where the new sculpture now stands.
The town's mayor decided to go ahead with the ceremony on Saturday, saying he was "ashamed" that someone would treat an artwork that way.
"This is a day of harmony and unity and this kind of behaviour is unspeakable," said Thierry Boutard.
Algeria's ambassador to France said it was an act of "unspeakable baseness".