France's first gay wedding was celebrated on Saturday in spite of the opposition from the French

government in the suburb of Begles in the southwestern city of Bordeaux.

Noel Mamere, mayor of Begles, who could face punishment from the government, presided over the wedding of two men, 31-year-old shop worker Bertrand Charpentier and 34-year-old nurse

Stephane Chapin.

The couple arrived at Begles's municipal building in a brown Rolls-Royce amid applause from dozens of gay rights supporters, French television TF1 reported.

After the wedding, Noel Mamere said it was not a media show, nor a personal initiative and they will be considered as brave men.

French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin warned Wednesday, "If such a ceremony takes place, it cannot be called a marriage. It would be an illegal ceremony, null and void under the law...any elected official who does not respect the law in this matter... will be exposed to the sanctions

provided for by law."

Mamere risks being suspended as mayor and fined up to 1,500 euros (about 1,800 dollars) if action is brought against him.

A "sanctions procedure" has been started against Mamere for having presided over the wedding of two men, French Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin told journalists in Paris.

Gay marriages, which are only recognized by Belgium and the Netherlands in Europe, are still illegal in France.

Source: Xinhua