FRANCE: French authorities have banned certain types of gatherings in Paris this weekend, in the hope of preventing youths of immigrant origin from bringing violence into the centre of the capital.
Pierre Mutz, the prefect of police, issued a communique forbidding "all gatherings of persons of a nature to provoke or maintain disorder" in Paris between 10am today and 8pm tomorrow. It was the first decision concerning Paris taken under the Algerian War era emergency law invoked by the government on Wednesday. Other regions used the law to establish curfews.
Police intercepted mobile telephone text messages and notices on the internet exhorting young people to "make a raid" on Paris this holiday weekend. Three thousand policemen have been deployed throughout the capital, including some 450 reinforcements from the police academy.
It is unlikely that substantial numbers of the mostly Arab and African youths who have been rioting on the outskirts of the capital since October 27th would be able to evade surveillance on the roads and suburban trains. Violations of the ban are punishable by up to two months in prison and/or €3,700 in fines.
Twelve thousand police and gendarmes are on alert nationwide in the hope of stemming the rioting which continued into a 16th night last night. At least 10 cars were burned in Toulouse by 8pm. More than 480 cars were burned across France on Thursday.
The interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, has said he will not tolerate any excesses by police. Yesterday five policemen were charged in connection with the beating of a 19-year-old tagged "Fouad A" on Monday. The two policemen, charged with "violence committed by a person invested with public authority", risk five years in prison. They and a third policeman are also charged with writing a false report. Two others are under investigation for failing to stop the beating. The police union Alliance said the proceedings against the five were "unacceptable".