French violence falls to normal level, police say

PARIS (Reuters) – Urban violence has dropped to normal
levels in France after three weeks of unrest in its run-down
suburbs, police said on Thursday.

Ninety-eight vehicles were set ablaze on Wednesday night, a
sharp drop from the peak of the violence when about 1,400
vehicles were torched on the night of November 6. Police
detained 33 people during the night.

“The situation has returned to normal because about 100
vehicles are set on fire each night in France,” a police
spokesman said.

Violence erupted on October 27 after the accidental deaths
of two youths electrocuted while apparently fleeing police.

The rioting has been blamed mostly on youths who feel
excluded from mainstream society and are frustrated by racism,
harsh police treatment and high unemployment. Many of the
rioters are of Arab and African origin but some are white.

Urban unrest has receded since the government adopted
emergency measures including curfews last week, although few
areas have used the anti-riot powers.

The Senate approved a government law on Wednesday extending
the measures for three months, completing the bill’s passage
through parliament.