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| French police target riot leaders | French police target riot leaders |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| French police have arrested more than 30 people in raids on housing estates near Paris, targeting the suspected ringleaders of riots last November. | French police have arrested more than 30 people in raids on housing estates near Paris, targeting the suspected ringleaders of riots last November. |
| Some 1,000 police took part in the pre-dawn sweep in and around Villiers-le-Bel, some 20km (12 miles) north of the capital, officials said. | Some 1,000 police took part in the pre-dawn sweep in and around Villiers-le-Bel, some 20km (12 miles) north of the capital, officials said. |
| The 2007 riots began in Paris's mainly immigrant suburbs after two teenagers died in a crash with a police car. | |
| More than 100 policemen were injured at the time, some seriously. | More than 100 policemen were injured at the time, some seriously. |
| In December, police handed out leaflets in the suburb calling for witnesses and promising rewards of up to several thousand euros for information. | In December, police handed out leaflets in the suburb calling for witnesses and promising rewards of up to several thousand euros for information. |
| The clashes were a bitter reminder of the nationwide riots of 2005, when France was forced to call a state of emergency after weeks of violence in its poor and mainly immigrant suburbs. | The clashes were a bitter reminder of the nationwide riots of 2005, when France was forced to call a state of emergency after weeks of violence in its poor and mainly immigrant suburbs. |
| Earlier this month, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a three-year plan to deploy 4,000 more police and roll out a half-billion euro (£375m) aid lifeline to flashpoint neighbourhoods. | Earlier this month, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a three-year plan to deploy 4,000 more police and roll out a half-billion euro (£375m) aid lifeline to flashpoint neighbourhoods. |
| Mr Sarkozy also promised to help 100,000 people find work and declared a "war without mercy" on drug dealers. | Mr Sarkozy also promised to help 100,000 people find work and declared a "war without mercy" on drug dealers. |