Paris bans weekend gatherings, fearing new riots

Reuters ^ | 11 Nov 2005 | Kerstin Gehmlich

[ncountylee]

, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Police banned any gathering that might provoke disorder in Paris this weekend, saying they had been warned violence was planned for Saturday after two weeks of rioting across France.

The intensity of France's most serious unrest in four decades has dropped since President Jacques Chirac's government adopted emergency measures including curfews on Tuesday to curb unrest by youngsters complaining of racism and unemployment.

But there was a rise in violence in suburbs of the capital overnight. Police said 463 vehicles were set on fire across France, a slight fall from the previous night, but the number of vehicles torched in the areas around Paris rose from 84 to 111.

"This confirms the downward trend overall, with some resistance in the Paris region," national police chief Michel Gaudin told reporters on Friday. "This weekend we will exercise extra vigilance in the Paris region."

Police said the Paris ban would run from 10 a.m. (0900 GMT) on Saturday to 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Sunday.

Some 3,000 police officers were mobilised in the capital, and forces were increased in other French cities, police said.

[Grig]

[syriacus]

The Muslim youths in Paris have a more depressing future than the Muslim youths in Baghdad.

I think it is no coincidence that the riots began in Paris 2 days after the Iraqis formally okayed their constitution.

[etradervic]

Police said 463 vehicles were set on fire across France, a slight fall from the previous night, but the number of vehicles torched in the areas around Paris rose from 84 to 111. "This confirms the downward trend overall, with some resistance in the Paris region," national police chief Michel Gaudin told reporters on Friday.

LOL

I hear that there has been progress in negotiations...