PROTESTS BANNED IN SEVERAL FRENCH CITIES

PARIS, OCTOBER 22 /SRNA/ – French authorities have banned protests scheduled for today in several cities following clashes and looting over the weekend, during the country’s most violent riots in several years.

Demonstrations planned in Paris, Lyon, Lille and Grenoble have been banned, a move that some see as a violation of the French people’s right to organise protests, the Associated Press reported.

Groups of secondary school and university students say they will continue to mobilize, despite the autumn school holidays having begun this week.

The Paris Police Prefecture said the ban was necessary given the risk of street violence.

The ban in Paris will remain in effect until 8:00 p.m. local time and will cover areas surrounding the Élysée Palace, both chambers of parliament and the city’s main railway stations. Central Paris areas that were heavily affected by looting are also included.

The unrest in Paris and other French cities has prompted a strong response from the government. Night-time curfews have been imposed in certain parts of the capital and in other cities, where order has since been restored.