French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's government decided on Monday to ask parliament to extend emergency powers for 3 months in an attempt to combat the worst urban violence in nearly 40 years, according to Reuters. President Jacques Chirac was due later on Monday to address the nation directly for the first time on unrest by youths in run-down suburbs protesting against racism, poor job prospects and a sense of exclusion from mainstream society. Although the violence was waning after reaching a peak a week ago, police said youths destroyed 284 vehicles in petrol bomb attacks in an 18th consecutive night of violence. "I think it's over. I think the young people have let out their anger, and I think the government got the message," said Bernard Moutei, 40, walking among the high-rise estates in the Clichy-sous-Bois suburb of Paris where the unrest began. --More 2250 Local Time 1950 GMT
