France plans curfews and 1500 police officers to stop riots
Local authorities in France have been allowed to impose curfews in an attempt to end 11 days of riots, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin says.
Speaking in a television interview, he called the violence "unacceptable" and outlined measures to curb the unrest that has hit 300 towns and cities. He ruled out army intervention for the moment, but said an extra 1,500 police officers are to be deployed.
Mr de Villepin told TF1 television the government would do whatever it took to bring the violence under control. He said a special cabinet meeting on Tuesday would approve the curfew plans.
"Wherever it is necessary, the prefects (regional authorities) will be able, under the authority of the interior minister, to apply a curfew if they think it useful for a return to calm," he said.
Although the measure is not due to take effect until Wednesday, one mayor in the Paris suburb of Le Raincy declared a curfew on Monday to "avoid a tragedy".
Tributes have been paid to the first victim of the violence. Hundreds of people gathered in the Paris suburb of Stains to remember Jean-Jacques Le Chenadec, 61, who died from his injuries after falling into a coma from an attack last week.
Bbc news
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