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France Strengthens Armistice Day Security After 2 Weeks of Riots
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=FBB96C:3919ACA Security extremely
tight in Paris following reports that rioters may be planning attacks
in downtown areas 





French President Jacques Chirac, left, and French Army Chief of Staff
General Henri Bentegeat, right, stand aboard command car upon their
arrival to attend ceremonies marking 87th anniversary of WWI
armistice, at Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris, Friday

French President Jacques Chirac has laid a wreath at the tomb of the
unknown soldier, marking Armistice Day after two weeks of nighttime
rioting in largely Muslim-inhabited areas of France.

Security was extremely tight in the French capital following reports
that rioters may be planning attacks in downtown areas. Paris police
chief Pierre Mutz says Internet and cell phone messages calling for
violence have circulated this week, as the country prepared for the
holiday marking the end of World War I.

Meanwhile, French police say almost 400 vehicles were set ablaze and
at least 160 people were arrested during another night of riots
Thursday.

State of emergency rules remain in effect in many towns and cities.
But authorities say the violence, mostly by youths from France's North
African minority population, has begun to recede.

Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.