France Riot Watch: France Extends State of Emergency for Three Months

A woman walks past a primary school damaged when rioters rammed a car into its gate then set the building on fire, in the southern city of Toulouse, Monday, Nov 13, 2005. Youths set schools ablaze and torched cars as scattered arson attacks persisted across France and the government extended the country’s state of emergency by three months on Monday.

The ASSociated Press has France Set to Extend State of Emergency

The French Cabinet approved a bill Monday to extend the country’s state of emergency for three months, while youths set schools ablaze and waged other scattered arson attacks across France.

Though the unrest is abating, the bill, if approved by parliament as expected, would allow a 12-day state of emergency to be prolonged until mid-February if needed. The emergency measures empower regions to impose curfews on minors, conduct house searches and take other steps to prevent unrest.

“It is a measure of protection and precaution,”President Jacques Chirac said.

Chirac stressed that the measure was “temporary” and that regional officials would use it “only where it is strictly necessary.” About 40 French towns, including France’s third-largest city, Lyon, have used the measure to put curfews for minors into effect.

Overnight, the number of car-torchings — a barometer of the unrest — dropped again, with youths setting fire to 284 vehicles, compared with 374 the previous night, police said Monday. There were no clashes between police and rioters.

“The lull is confirmed,” national police spokesman Patrick Hamon said. A week ago, 1,400 cars were burned in a single night.

As the violence wains in which direction will the French government turn?

Deportation of the foreign youths or their families?

From Sunday to Monday, 115 people were taken into custody, police said. Since the beginning of the unrest, 2,767 people have been arrested.

The French Federation of Insurance Companies gave a preliminary estimate for the total damage from the rioting — up to $234 million, including more than $23 million for torched cars.

Chirac is to make a televised statement later in the day.

Stay tuned………