This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7234088.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sarkozy's rescue plan for suburbs | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy has warned the "very idea of the nation is at stake" unless poor, mainly immigrant suburbs wracked by riots are revived. | |
| He spoke as he unveiled a rescue plan to deploy 4,000 more police over three years and a half billion euro aid lifeline to flashpoint neighbourhoods. | |
| Mr Sarkozy also declared "war without mercy" on drug dealers in such areas. | |
| As interior minister in 2005 he was criticised for saying he would cleanse the suburbs of what he called "rabble". | |
| Those remarks came amid nationwide riots that saw a state of emergency declared. | |
| 'Firm but fair' | |
| The government at the time promised to invest heavily in the marginalised estates but many feel that, more than two years later, little has been done. | The government at the time promised to invest heavily in the marginalised estates but many feel that, more than two years later, little has been done. |
| I want to tell these kids, who are French, nobody will be judged by their skin colour, or by the address of their district Nicolas Sarkozy class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/3673102.stm">Profile: Nicolas Sarkozy | |
| At his official residence in Paris on Friday, Mr Sarkozy unveiled proposals targeted at France's most sensitive suburbs, known as "banlieues". | |
| He said: "In view of what is happening in these neighbourhoods, what is at stake is not just our idea of secularism but the future of a certain idea of the Republic. The very idea of the nation is at stake." | |
| Most of the measures are aimed at youths, encouraging them to continue education and helping them find jobs. | |
| He said: "I want to tell these kids, who are French, nobody will be judged by their skin colour, or by the address of their district. | |
| More than 30 French towns and cities were affected by 2005's rioting | More than 30 French towns and cities were affected by 2005's rioting |
| "I want diversity at all levels of our public services. France is founded on unity - not uniformity - equality and fraternity. I must be tough and firm, but fair." | |
| Rioting most recently broke out in November 2007 after two teenagers died in a collision with a police car in Val d'Oise, near Paris. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThis is just a publicity stunt to boost his imageRohit Raj, Mumbai, India Send us your comments | |
| The initial findings of an internal police probe, which found that police were not to blame, sparked three nights of violent unrest around the capital and in Toulouse. | The initial findings of an internal police probe, which found that police were not to blame, sparked three nights of violent unrest around the capital and in Toulouse. |
| With municipal elections coming up next month, Mr Sarkozy knows how important it is to show that his right-wing Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party is offering solutions to France's huge problem of social unrest, correspondents say. | |
| Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Have you lived in the French suburbs? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Have you lived in the French suburbs? Send us your comments using the form below. |