FRANCE: French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy's walk near the Champs Elysees was interrupted by youngsters asking for his resignation

Record ID: 858883

  • Title: FRANCE: French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy's walk near the Champs Elysees was interrupted by youngsters asking for his resignation
  • Date: 13th November 2005
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE)(French) NICOLAS SARKOZY, FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER, SAYING: ''We are ready, and will say it very clearly: we will accept no violence in the capital or anywhere else. All those who wish to commit those acts will be brought to justice.'' VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS LISTENING PARIS PREFECT PIERRE MUTZ LISTENING JOURNALISTS LISTENING WIDE OF POLICE STANDING UP, PRESENTING SALUTE (SOUNDBITE)(French) NICOLAS SARKOZY, FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER, SAYING: ''If you want to live in France have a residency permit, well you have to abide by the law. There has been fifteen days of violence, the code allows expulsions. I am the Minister of Interior and I will apply the law.''
  • Embargoed: 28th November 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • City:
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEE9EEZGY03C7TKDVITNGHVA8U
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  • Story Text: French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy attempted on Saturday (November 12) to walk on the Champs Elysees to meet police forces, but was forced back in his car after being booed by people in the crowd who also called for his resignation. Thousands of French police patrolled central Paris to enforce a ban on large gatherings and prevent urban unrest reaching the heart of the capital, including targets such as the Champs Elysees and the Eiffel Tower. Three thousand extra police were brought into Paris on Friday, the Armistice holiday marking the end of World War One, and riot police have been patrolling important areas, buildings and suburban trains since then. The Paris ban on large gatherings went into force at 10 a.m. (0900 GMT) and was due to run until 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Sunday (November 13). The heart of the city has largely escaped the violence that has plagued impoverished neighbourhoods just outside the city. Police said they had monitored calls for violence on Internet sites and that potential targets included the Champs Elysees and the Eiffel Tower. Speaking in front of police officers in a police station in central Paris, Sarkozy said, ''We are ready, and will say it very clearly: we will not accept any violence in the capital or anywhere else. All those who wish to commit those acts will be brought to justice.'' Many young people living in France's poor suburbs resent Sarkozy's tough actions - and tough speech. ''If you want to live in France with a residency permit, well you have to abide by the law. There has been fifteen days of violence: Immigration Laws (Code des Etrangers) allow expulsions. I am the Minister of Interior and I will apply the law,'' Sarkozy added. An opinion poll by the BVA research group on Nov. 4-5 showed 56 percent of French people approved of Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy's tough actions, and another poll showed French people widely back the government's emergency measures. In a sign of concern after violence rose slightly on the 16th night of clashes, regional authorities for the first time declared a curfew for minors in France's second city of Lyon for Saturday and Sunday night. Security forces used tear gas in Lyon on Saturday afternoon to disperse around 50 youths in the city centre who attacked stalls and damaged vehicles, witnesses said.
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