PARIS, Nov 9 (AFP) - Interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday issued orders for non-French rioters convicted in the wave of urban violence to be deported -- a measure directed at youths of Arab and African background living in the high-immigrant neighbourhoods involved in the unrest.

Sarkozy told prefects, or regional governors, to apply the order to foreigners including those who have valid French residency visas.

He told parliament that "120 foreigners, not all of whom are here illegally, have been convicted" of taking part in the nightly rampages that have occurred since October 27.

"I have asked the prefects to deport them from our national territory without delay, including those who have a residency visa," he said.

Sarkozy's order followed a decision by the government to declare a state of emergency allowing prefects in certain regions to impose curfews and widen police search-and-seizure powers.

The tough city suburbs that have spawned the violence are predominantly home to immigrant families from France's former colonial interests in north and west Africa, including Algeria, Morocco, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal and Tunisia.

Though most of the youths from there are French citizens, born and educated in the country, some are non-French, given residency papers to stay with family members.

Copyright AFP

Subject: French news