French President Jacques Chirac has vowed to restore law and order following almost two weeks of violence by what authorities say are youths of North African origin from poor neighborhoods.
In his first public comments since the violence began, Mr. Chirac said Sunday that restoring public security is the government's top priority. Police say the rioters seem more organized and are carrying out more looting and arson attacks.
Some 25-hundred cars have been torched, hundreds of arrests have been made, and at least 10 officers have been wounded by pellet gunfire.
The violence has spread to other French cities since it began outside Paris October 27th, after the accidental deaths of two North African teenagers who were said to be fleeing police.
Analysts say the rioting has become an expression by poor ethnic minority youths against racism and high unemployment.