Posted on 11/07/2005 5:48:46 PM PST by blam
Leaders fiddle as France burns
By Colin Randall in Paris
(Filed: 08/11/2005)
France was struggling to overcome one of its gravest post-war crises last night as every major city faced the threat of fierce rioting that began 12 nights ago and now seems to have spun out of control.
More than 1,400 vehicles were destroyed during a night of increasing violence
Despite an assurance from Philippe Douste Blazy, the foreign minister, that France was "not a dangerous country", the spread of violence prompted the Foreign Office in London to warn travellers that trouble could break out "almost anywhere".
Dominique de Villepin, the beleaguered prime minister, announced that officials in riot-hit areas would be authorised to impose late-night curfews "wherever it is necessary" in a bid to halt the disturbances.
He rejected calls by a police union for troops to be sent in but said that 1,500 reservists were being called up and repeated an appeal to parents to keep adolescent rioters off the streets.
Although the disorder began on the intimidating sink estates of Paris's northern suburbs, trouble had been reported yesterday in the early hours from most regions of the country. Even areas such as Brittany, the Loire and Bordeaux, favoured by British holidaymakers and second- home hunters, have now been drawn into the worst wave of unrest in France since the spring revolt of 1968 set in motion the downfall of Gen Charles de Gaulle.
Yesterday the violence also claimed its first life. A 61-year-old man died in hospital three days after being beaten unconscious when he left his home in a northern Paris suburb intending to stop rubbish bins being set on fire.
Even before renewed disturbances broke out last night, figures showed that rioters had wrecked 4,700 vehicles, injured more than 100 police and rescue workers, and opened fire in at least six separate incidents.
Of the 1,200 people arrested, more than 30 - half of them juveniles - have already been jailed or given youth custody.
Rioters have targeted schools, churches and public buildings
The police union Action Police CFTC called for curfews to be imposed in all riot-hit areas to combat the "civil war that spreads a little more every day". The mayor of one town, Raincy, north of Paris, announced a late-night street ban on children to "avoid a tragedy". The union also urged the government to send in troops to defeat the trouble-makers, mainly mobs of young people from poor estates dominated by Muslim families whose origins are in France's former colonies in north and sub-Saharan Africa.
Twenty-four hours earlier, a belated and much-criticised intervention by President Jacques Chirac, his first since the violence began, was followed by the worst night of rioting so far.
More than 1,400 vehicles were destroyed, two policemen were injured by birdshot and petrol bomb attacks were launched on schools, churches and public buildings.
Mr Chirac, who had spoken of a French republic resolved to show itself "stronger than those who want to sow violence or fear", made more conciliatory comments in a private meeting yesterday.
President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia said the French president had admitted to him that "ghettoisation of youths of African or North African origin" was to be deplored, as was French society's "incapacity to fully accept them".
Pascal Clement, the justice minister, announced that three boys, aged 16, had been detained in the southern city of Aix-en-Provence for allegedly using their weblogs, hosted by a pop music radio station, to urge others to riot.
Police claim that ringleaders of the disturbances, which began in the northern Paris surburb of Clichy-sous-Bois on Oct 27 after two boys were accidentally electrocuted while apparently running from police, have become increasingly organised.
The Foreign Office yesterday warned Britons already in France or considering travelling there that the unrest could now break out "almost anywhere".
The new travel advisory painted a much more alarming picture of the threat to British citizens than a similar bulletin issued on Sunday.
Britons should also "avoid any demonstrations which may be taking place in and around" areas affected by the riots, said the Foreign Office website.
Blitzkrieg!!
I am certainly enjoying this.
Burning churches? Why am I not surprised?
ping - Gallic version of your novel 2
a reporter on H&C now - "the curfews are not working".
Choking to death on their own pluralism.
The French never learn. It is sad really. They thought they could appease the muslims by bashing Bush. Daladier, Chamberlain, Chiraq. Peas in the Appeasement pod.
They did that this was already in the works and not prompted by this insurrection.
"The jihadists sense that Western Europe is ripe for plucking. Hamstrung by the liberal doctrines of multiculturalism and political correctness, Western Europe is unprepared for a determined jihad from within.
It is far more likely that European socialist governments will keep looking for ways to appease the jihadist demands at the continued expense of their own cultures. "
good grief, can this be seen by satellite now?
Get a Few Curs out there to chomp their tails.
He rejected calls by a police union for troops to be sent in but said that 1,500 reservists were being called up and repeated an appeal to parents to keep adolescent rioters off the streets.
Mon-sewer Wiley-pan, perhaps your mathematique needs UN assistance. I count 50 or so flames on zee map. 1500/50 = 30 extra reservistes per city /town. I don't think it will cut the Grey Poupon.
France is burning
France is burning
Look out!
Look out!
Fire! Fire!
Fire! Fire!
Pour on water
Pour on water
[continue in endless round]
How the hell are they going to enforce teh 'curfew'?
"He had a choice of dishonor or war. He chose dishonor; now he shall have war."
Seems to apply here, also.
littlegreenfootballs has an incredible video of the rioters yelling "allu akbar". Worth a look.
wow
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