face Chirac: issues France behind must riots

PARIS — French President Jacques Chirac said Thursdayt hat the government must respond quickly to underlying problems in riot- hit suburbs, and a police chief said he feared rioters were planning protests in central Paris.

Violence in urban areas around France fell for a third consecutive night after an emergency provision allowed local of 3 cials to impose curfews following two weeks of unrest over racism, poverty and unemployment.

“ We will have to draw all the consequences from this crisis, once the time comes and order has been restored, and with a lot of courage and lucidity,” Chirac said after talks with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

“ We need to respond in a strong and quick wayt o the unquestionable problems that many inhabitants of the deprived neighborhoods surrounding our cities are facing,” said Chirac, who has come under 3 re for saying little during the crisis.

The riots in poor suburbs began after the accidental deaths of two youths apparently 7 eeing police. The unrest grew into protests by youths who are poor and white or of African origin.

The unrest has rattled the conservative government and prompted Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin on Tuesdayt o invoke a 50year-old law allowing certain powers, such as the imposition of night curfews.

Police said the number of vehicles burned fell by about one- 3 fth overnight compared with the previous night. Justice Minister Pascal Clement said the new rules were the reason.

Despite the overall drop in violence, there were overnight clashes in t he s outhwestern c ity of Toulouse, where a burning car was rammed into a primaryscho ol.

Police said 482 vehicles had been torched overnight, down from 617 the previous night.

France suspended eight police of3 cers after two of them beat a young man they had detained during rioting in a suburb north of Paris. The other six looked on, the Interior Ministrys aid Thursday.

Riots in the Paris area have been almost entirely con 3 ned to the suburbs. Paris police Chief Pierre Mutz said in a statement that “ calls have been launched over the past few days on Internet sites . . . urging meetings within Paris and calling for ‘ violent actions.’ ”

Mutz banned the transport and purchase of gasoline cans, citing a string of arrests in the capital of people carrying 3 rebombs. He ordered all Paris gas stations to enforce the ban.