Four in five French fear near-term repeat of riots

PARIS, Jan 30, 2006 (AFP) – More than four in five French people fear the riots that engulfed hundreds of low-income suburbs last autumn could flare up again in the next few months, according to a survey published on Monday.

Eighty-six percent of respondents questioned by the CSA polling institute said they believed similar violence could “certainly or probably” break out again, according to findings published in Le Parisien newspaper.

A similar number — 82 percent — felt that the government had yet to bring real solutions to the problems of poverty and ethnic discrimination blamed for the unrest, with the figure soaring to 90 percent among under 30-year-olds.

Gangs of mainly black and Arab youths waged three weeks of nightly violence in poor suburbs across France from late October, after two youngsters were electrocuted to death while hiding from police.

Some 10,000 cars and 300 public buildings were torched in the frenzy of violence, which lay bare the social and economic exclusion faced by many in the ghetto-like estates.

The government has since outlined a series of measures aimed at improving education and employment and fighting ethnic discrimination in the run-down areas — as well as steps to boost security and a toughening of immigration rules.

The poll was conducted last week by the CSA for Le Parisien and the iTele news channel, with 1,001 adults questioned.

Subject: French news