French government to meet on measures to quell unremitting riots

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin is to call two special government sessions on Thursday to solve the Paris suburban violence which has lasted into its seventh day, Villepin's office announced.

According to Paris police, four gunshots were fired on Wednesday night, which had missed their targets. The police fired rubber bullets when they felt threatened by advancing mobs and nine people were injured in the clashes, they said.

More than 1,000 policemen were mobilized in a bid to restore calm in the suburban areas of the capital. They used shields to protect themselves from those who hurled stones at them. Teargas grenades were also fired to disperse violent youngsters.

A total of 200 vehicles were torched, a gymnasium and a garage were set ablaze and a commercial center was vandalized, a fire service spokesman said.

The violence first started on Thursday night in Clichy-sous-Bois in northeast Paris, an area which is home to many Muslim immigrants from North Africa.

Two local teenagers, 15 and 17, were accidentally electrocuted Thursday while they were trying to run away from police. The incident has sparked fresh waves of violent protests in areas around Paris.

French President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday called for calm amid rising violence, while Villepin and Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy cancelled their trips to other countries.

Source: Xinhua