FRANCE - RIOTS
Sarkozy holds crisis talks on suburban unrest
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Back from a visit to China, French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited wounded police officers and families of victims before chairing a crisis cabinet meeting on the recent riots.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
By Reuters
EAUBONNE, France, Nov 28 (Reuters) - French President
Nicolas Sarkozy pledged on Wednesday to punish rioters who shot
at police but sought to ease tensions with an independent probe
into the deaths of two youths that triggered the unrest.
Nicolas Sarkozy pledged on Wednesday to punish rioters who shot
at police but sought to ease tensions with an independent probe
into the deaths of two youths that triggered the unrest.
Youths in Paris suburbs and southwestern Toulouse torched
several cars and rubbish bins in the third night of tension, but
a police clampdown in the Paris area brought a sharp drop in
violence from the two previous nights.
several cars and rubbish bins in the third night of tension, but
a police clampdown in the Paris area brought a sharp drop in
violence from the two previous nights.
Officials reported no major clashes between police and
youths in the northern Paris suburbs, areas with mixed white,
North African and African populations that suffer from poor
housing, high unemployment and crime.
youths in the northern Paris suburbs, areas with mixed white,
North African and African populations that suffer from poor
housing, high unemployment and crime.
Moments after arriving back in France from China, Sarkozy
sped off to a hospital in the Eaubonne suburb of Paris where a
senior police officer, attacked at the start of the violence on
Sunday, was being treated for serious injuries.
sped off to a hospital in the Eaubonne suburb of Paris where a
senior police officer, attacked at the start of the violence on
Sunday, was being treated for serious injuries.
Sarkozy, a law-and-order hardliner when he was interior
minister during riots two years ago, praised the officer's
courage and said nothing could justify such violence.
minister during riots two years ago, praised the officer's
courage and said nothing could justify such violence.
"Those who take it upon themselves to shoot at police will
find themselves in the Assizes Court" which handles serious
cases, he told reporters later.
find themselves in the Assizes Court" which handles serious
cases, he told reporters later.
Shooting at police "has a name -- attempted murder."
The violence has revived memories of the riots in 2005, the
worst unrest in France in 40 years, when thousands of cars were
torched after two teenagers were accidentally electrocuted in a
power sub-station after apparently fleeing police.
worst unrest in France in 40 years, when thousands of cars were
torched after two teenagers were accidentally electrocuted in a
power sub-station after apparently fleeing police.
The new wave of violence erupted on Sunday when two
teenagers on a moped were killed in a collision with a police
car.
teenagers on a moped were killed in a collision with a police
car.
VIOLENCE FALLS
But an official in the riot-affected areas said the level of
violence overnight had halved from Monday, when about 80 police
officers were injured in clashes with youths.
violence overnight had halved from Monday, when about 80 police
officers were injured in clashes with youths.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon told parliament a heavy
police presence on Tuesday night had helped restore calm: "Last
night there were 1,000 police on the ground ... and we saw the
results -- there was a very noticeable drop in violence."
police presence on Tuesday night had helped restore calm: "Last
night there were 1,000 police on the ground ... and we saw the
results -- there was a very noticeable drop in violence."
Officials have said the latest unrest was nowhere near the
scale of 2005 and was limited to a few areas, though the use of
firearms so early in the disturbances has alarmed police.
scale of 2005 and was limited to a few areas, though the use of
firearms so early in the disturbances has alarmed police.
During a flurry of meetings apparently designed to show he
was ready to tackle pressing domestic problems after his China
trip, Sarkozy met the crash victims' parents. He agreed a formal
manslaughter probe by an independent investigating judge would
be opened, a key demand of the families.
was ready to tackle pressing domestic problems after his China
trip, Sarkozy met the crash victims' parents. He agreed a formal
manslaughter probe by an independent investigating judge would
be opened, a key demand of the families.
"It's a gesture that is just, and aims to calm the situation
which we would like, in the name of all the families, to be
heard everywhere," their lawyer Jean-Pierre Mignard said.
which we would like, in the name of all the families, to be
heard everywhere," their lawyer Jean-Pierre Mignard said.
A public prosecutor has said an initial crash report cleared
police of blame in what she said was a road traffic accident.
Questions remain, however, over police actions after the crash
and the speed with which help arrived.
police of blame in what she said was a road traffic accident.
Questions remain, however, over police actions after the crash
and the speed with which help arrived.
Tense relations with police, high unemployment, poor
schools, inadequate housing and tougher immigration laws have
created a generation of frustrated youths in the "cites" -- run
down housing estates on the outskirts of the major towns.
schools, inadequate housing and tougher immigration laws have
created a generation of frustrated youths in the "cites" -- run
down housing estates on the outskirts of the major towns.
Fillon said the government planned to invest 12 billion
euros ($17.68 billion) euros in France's deprived suburbs over
the next five years, including 140 million euros in
Villiers-le-Bel where the latest disturbances started. It plans
to unveil a plan to boost jobs in tough suburbs on Jan. 22.
euros ($17.68 billion) euros in France's deprived suburbs over
the next five years, including 140 million euros in
Villiers-le-Bel where the latest disturbances started. It plans
to unveil a plan to boost jobs in tough suburbs on Jan. 22.
[1] réaction :
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Monday, November 26, 2007
Riots in French suburbs
By Lauren
I am astounded that those who reacted to the tragic death of the two teens think they had the right to attack so many innocent people. This is alarming. Passers by, shop owners, the owners of the burned cars. It sounds more like the war zones of the middle east than a quiet surburban neighborhood.
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