Curfew Imposed in Parisian Ghettos

Paris, Nov 8 (Prensa Latina) Parisian ghettos woke up Tuesday after a night of strict curfew, which was imposed Monday in an effort by the French authorities to curtail the violent rioting and protests against racism and inequality that have been raging for 11 days.



The Army was sent in to help the gendarmerie stop the intense demonstrations against discrimination suffered by immigrants, mostly from Africa, and their families.



In addition to the destruction of buildings and cars and the number of arrests, that have been increasing night by night, the street violence caused Monday the first fatal victim, a retired man who been attacked Friday night in Stains was reported dead.



The restrictive measure adopted by the Governor of Le Raincy, a ghetto located in the north eastern department of Saine-Saint-Denis, is aimed at stopping the violence now extended from Clichy-sous-Bois to the rest of the country.



The violent actions are committed by young people as a way to express their open rejection to a discriminatory system that keeps them living in poverty.



French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, is expected to announce Tuesday a new governmental plan to put an end to the demonstrations, which had started October 27 in reaction to the death of two African teenagers.



De Villepin said Monday that the Justice Minister Pascal Clement had already instructed district attorneys and other judicial authorities to speed up trials and deliver tough sentences.



On Sunday night, two police agents were seriously wounded with fire from shotguns and another 30 officers suffered contusions in Grigny, South Paris.



Other violent acts were reported in the Parisian Square of the Republic, Toulouse, Lille, Pau, Cannes, Avignon, Nantes, Rennes, Mureaux and Orleans.