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1st LD Writethru: French National Assembly backs extension of State of Emergency to three months

Xinhua, November 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

France's lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, voted on Thursday to extend the state of emergency to three months in the wake of Paris attacks.

A total of 551 votes are in favor, six against, and one abstention.

"We are at war, not a war that history has tragically accustomed ourselves to," Prime Minister Manuel Valls told lawmakers, adding "this is a war of which the battle front moves constantly and situated at the center of our daily life".

The Senate will examine the bill on Friday. Once approved in the Senate, the state of emergency will be officially extended.

French President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency on November 14, a day after Paris attacks, with the aim to empower police to conduct house searches and arrest suspects.

According to the Interior Ministry, 414 raids have been launched since November 14. During the raids, 60 people were placed under custody, 118 others under house arrest and 75 weapons were seized. Enditem