Rioting losing steam

CLAMPDOWN

PARIS— France imposed emergency measures yesterday in 38 suburbs, towns and cities, but in a 14th night of violence youths clashed with police in the southwestern city of Toulouse and seven cars were burned. By late last night, however, there were few other confirmed reports of unrest elsewhere in France. Authorities in the Paris area, scene of some of the worst violence, said yesterday things appeared calm compared with previous nights. Some 350 police officers were on duty in tough neighbourhoods in Toulouse, where four of the cars were burned, authorities said. Three cars were set ablaze in the Val d’Oise area in the northwest of Paris. Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin published a decree invoking a 50- year- old law that gives regional government officials the power to impose nightly curfews against rioters, mainly protesting about unemployment and racism.

For much of France, including Paris, the state of emergency, which began at midnight Tuesday, had no perceptible effect. Authorities in Toulouse had not yet taken advantage of the emergency measures, and in the Paris suburbs where the unrest erupted Oct. 27, officials decided against a curfew because of a drop in violence.

Apoll in Le Parisiennewspaper showed 73 per cent support for the measures and 86 per cent of those surveyed said they were outraged by the violence.

Officials said the unrest that had spread across many of France’s towns and cities and shaken the government appeared to be waning. “ We are seeing a sharp drop in hostile acts,” said national police director Michel Gaudin.

During a visit yesterday to the Toronto Star,

France’s ambassador to Canada said the rioting was not triggered by religious elements. Ambassador Daniel Jouanneau instead blamed dissatisfied young “ hooligans” who he said were in some cases being “ used” by organized crime groups, the Star’s Harold Levy reports.

Fears of riots erupting elsewhere in Europe have helped push down the value of the euro.