Chirac Admits Riots Had 'exposed Inequality'

Jacques Chirac yesterday acknowledged that the urban violence in France had exposed the "undeniable problems" faced by many inhabitants of immigrant communities, and said that they had to be responded to quickly.

The French president said discrimination and inequality were feeding the rebellion of young people in deprived suburbs. "Whatever our origins, we are all the children of the republic, and we can all expect the same rights," he said.

In only his second public comment since rioting broke out two weeks ago, President Chirac defended his use of emergency measures but said the government had to do more to ensure all French citizens were treated equally. "We will have to draw all the consequences of this crisis, once the time comes and order has been restored, and with a lot of courage and lucidity. We need to respond strongly and quickly to the undeniable problems facing many inhabitants of the deprived neighbourhoods."

It was announced later that eight police officers had been suspended after a man in the suburb of La Courneuve was beaten. Two of the eight were suspected of dealing "unwarranted blows".

Officials said the violence, which began on October 27 when two youths of African origin were electrocuted while apparently hiding from police, waned for a third successive night, with 482 vehicles torched on Wednesday night, down from the 1,400 set alight on Sunday. Nonetheless, the Paris police chief banned the purchase and transport of petrol in jerry cans within the capital, warning that several internet sites had called for violence in central Paris over the coming bank holiday.

Despite emergency powers allowing local authorities in 38 areas to impose curfews, only five had felt it necessary to do so. "Most elected officials on the ground ... fear this measure will further stir things up, or believe it is an over-reaction or useless," the newspaper Libération said.

Mr Chirac said his decision to implement the 50-year-old emergency law, never before used in mainland France, had "given the security forces the measures they need".

Human rights groups sharply criticised Wednesday's announcement by the interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, which stated that all foreigners convicted of involvement in the rioting, including those with residence permits but excluding minors, would be deported. They were even angrier at a conservative MP's white paper proposing that naturalised citizens found guilty should be stripped of citizenship. Mr Sarkozy said 120 foreigners had been arrested over the unrest.

Dominique Sopo, president of the anti-racism group SOS Racisme, said the minister's measure was illegal as it amounted to mass deportation. French law and the European convention on human rights required expulsions to be considered case by case. Another anti-racism group, MRAP, said it was horrified by the "dangerous proposition". France Terre d'Asile, which assists refugees, said the measure was "certain to add fuel to the flames".