French violence falls to normal level, police say
Posted on: Thursday, 17 November 2005, 05:22 CST
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.
Source: REUTERS
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