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| Sarkozy's rescue plan for suburbs | Sarkozy's rescue plan for suburbs |
| (4 days later) | |
| France's President Sarkozy says the "very idea of the nation is at stake" unless poor, mainly ethnic minority suburbs wracked by riots are revived. | France's President Sarkozy says the "very idea of the nation is at stake" unless poor, mainly ethnic minority suburbs wracked by riots are revived. |
| He spoke as he announced a three-year proposal to deploy 4,000 more police and roll out a half-billion euro aid lifeline to flashpoint neighbourhoods. | He spoke as he announced a three-year proposal to deploy 4,000 more police and roll out a half-billion euro aid lifeline to flashpoint neighbourhoods. |
| Mr Sarkozy also unveiled plans to help 100,000 people find work and declared "war without mercy" on drug dealers. | Mr Sarkozy also unveiled plans to help 100,000 people find work and declared "war without mercy" on drug dealers. |
| Rioting exploded in the suburbs in late 2005 and at the end of last year. | Rioting exploded in the suburbs in late 2005 and at the end of last year. |
| As interior minister, Mr Sarkozy was accused of exacerbating the unrest two years ago by vowing to use a power hose to cleanse the suburbs' streets of what he called "rabble". | As interior minister, Mr Sarkozy was accused of exacerbating the unrest two years ago by vowing to use a power hose to cleanse the suburbs' streets of what he called "rabble". |
| 'Respect our culture' | 'Respect our culture' |
| 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 Profile: Nicolas Sarkozy | 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 Profile: Nicolas Sarkozy |
| At his official residence in Paris on Friday, Mr Sarkozy unveiled proposals to regenerate the most sensitive suburbs. | At his official residence in Paris on Friday, Mr Sarkozy unveiled proposals to regenerate the most sensitive suburbs. |
| He criticised the "dehumanising" architecture of some projects, promising new housing and the chance for people to buy their own property. | He criticised the "dehumanising" architecture of some projects, promising new housing and the chance for people to buy their own property. |
| Mr Sarkozy also proposed transporting students to schools in different neighbourhoods to help mingle social groups. | Mr Sarkozy also proposed transporting students to schools in different neighbourhoods to help mingle social groups. |
| 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 |
| "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," he said. "The very idea of the nation is at stake. | "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," he said. "The very idea of the nation is at stake. |
| "I want to tell these kids, who are French, nobody will be judged by their skin colour, or by the address of their district," he added. | "I want to tell these kids, who are French, nobody will be judged by their skin colour, or by the address of their district," he added. |
| The conservative leader also said that all French citizens had to respect "our culture, our values, our law." | The conservative leader also said that all French citizens had to respect "our culture, our values, our law." |
| BBC Europe regional editor Mike Sanders says Mr Sarkozy has long set his sights on improving conditions in the suburbs, where youth unemployment is running at 40% in some places. | BBC Europe regional editor Mike Sanders says Mr Sarkozy has long set his sights on improving conditions in the suburbs, where youth unemployment is running at 40% in some places. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThis is just a publicity stunt to boost his imageRohit Raj, Mumbai, India Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThis is just a publicity stunt to boost his imageRohit Raj, Mumbai, India Send us your comments |
| The government declared a state of national emergency in November 2005 after three weeks of rioting erupted in housing projects at more than 30 towns and cities. | The government declared a state of national emergency in November 2005 after three weeks of rioting erupted in housing projects at more than 30 towns and cities. |
| The disorder highlighted the problems of joblessness and social alienation among families of immigrants from former French colonies. | The disorder highlighted the problems of joblessness and social alienation among families of immigrants from former French colonies. |
| Unrest also broke out three months ago after two teenagers died in a collision with a police car in Val d'Oise, near Paris. | Unrest also broke out three months ago after two teenagers died in a collision with a police car in Val d'Oise, near Paris. |
| 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. | 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. |