''I unreservedly condemn the violence that has been occurring in the UK over the past 4 days. The scenes we are witnessing on our streets are unacceptable. These are criminal acts and must be treated as such'', declared on 10 August Keith Whitmore, President of the Congress and member of Manchester City Council (U.K.). ''The Congress has always campaigned for a solidarity-based urban model where social cohesion and 'living together' are major objectives of local policies and the local elected councillors who implement them. This message has always been well received in the UK but the economic crisis has weakened our social model of integration'', he continued.