CANNES, France (AP) - France gave actor Sidney Poitier its highest arts honour Thursday at the Cannes Film Festival, where the culture minister praised him for tearing down barriers for black actors in Hollywood.

Poitier was named a commander in France's order of arts and letters. Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres told the 79-year-old actor: "You are the champion of equality between men."

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