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Youths torch bus in Paris suburb Youths torch two buses near Paris
(about 2 hours later)
Youths have set a bus alight in a Paris suburb, as France prepares to mark the anniversary of a wave of rioting that swept its cities last year. Youths in the Paris suburbs have attacked two buses in separate incidents on the eve of the anniversary of rioting among immigrant communities.
Passengers were forced off the bus in Nanterre by hooded youths, who then set the vehicle on fire, police said. In Nanterre, north-west of Paris, about 10 passengers fled a bus as masked youths set it ablaze, police said.
Bus services in another area near Paris were suspended over security fears. A similar attack happened in Bagnolet, east of Paris, where a youth held a gun to the bus driver's head while others set it on fire, officials said.
Clashes between youths and police have risen sharply recently, amid warnings that the underlying causes of last year's unrest have not been addressed. Police report a spate of youth violence ahead of the anniversary.
Hundreds of young people of largely African and North African descent marched to the parliament building in Paris on Wednesday, demanding better treatment from the government. Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie accused the youths of attempted murder in the latest incidents.
They presented a petition calling for more action to tackle discrimination and more jobs and training for the young. A security services report leaked to a French newspaper this week said that the conditions that led to last year's riots were still in place.
Several hundred youths, of largely African and North African descent, marched to the National Assembly in Paris on Wednesday to present a list of complaints to the government.
They called for more action to tackle discrimination and more jobs and training for the young.
"Lots of people don't believe what we're doing. They don't understand the potential," Abdel Zahiri, one of the marchers, told the Associated Press news agency."Lots of people don't believe what we're doing. They don't understand the potential," Abdel Zahiri, one of the marchers, told the Associated Press news agency.
"The risk of violence exists, but hope exists, too," he said."The risk of violence exists, but hope exists, too," he said.
'Ripe for riots' Election issue
A police official in Nanterre said the bus was attacked by a gang of youths armed with a flammable liquid. About 9,000 cars were torched in the three weeks of unrest last year, which spread through the country's housing estates - dominated by immigrants and their French-born children.
"There were at least 10 passengers on board, who only just had enough time to get out. Thankfully there was nobody with any handicaps onboard, or it could have ended badly," he told the AFP news agency. A police official in Nanterre said the bus was attacked on Wednesday by a gang of youths armed with a flammable liquid.
Separately, bus routes in the Esone area, south of Paris, were suspended because of fears of attack. "There were at least 10 passengers on board, who only just had enough time to get out. Thankfully there was nobody with any handicaps on board, or it could have ended badly," he told the AFP news agency.
The latest unrest comes two days before the anniversary of the start of a wave of rioting that swept France last year. Separately, bus routes in the Essonne area, south of Paris, were suspended because of fears of attack.
Law and order have become major issues with presidential elections due next year.Law and order have become major issues with presidential elections due next year.
Candidates from the two biggest parties have promised a tough approach to crime.Candidates from the two biggest parties have promised a tough approach to crime.
But according to the BBC's James Read, there has been less discussion of youth unemployment, social alienation and racial discrimination in impoverished suburban estates.But according to the BBC's James Read, there has been less discussion of youth unemployment, social alienation and racial discrimination in impoverished suburban estates.
A French intelligence report warned this week that the estates hit by riots a year ago could once again descend into violence.
The conditions that led to the 2005 unrest are still in place, the report said.
About 9,000 cars were torched in the three weeks of unrest last year, which spread through the country's housing estates - dominated by immigrants and their French-born children.