French lawmakers approve constitution reform to muscle security across France

French National Assembly on Wednesday approved the collective package of security measures proposed by the Socialist government to fight against terrorism and which included procedures to declare a state of emergency and to revoke citizenship.

Among lawmakers, 317 gave green light to amend the constitution while 199 refused to add the controversial bills in the constitution, 51 abstained.

The draft law which triggered street protests and forced Justice Minister Chritiane Taubira to resign, won the needed three-fifths of the lower house of parliament.

However, in the Socialist leader Francois Hollande's camp, 83 rebel lawmakers opposed the law with 28 abstained, mirroring severe rift in the governing camp, a fact likely to further weaken Hollande, France's most unpopular president.

"I'm delighted to see the vote. The debate is continuing and the French won't forgive those who won't assume their responsibility," French Prime Minister Manuel Valls was quoted as saying by local media.

Earlier this week, deputes had voted separately main two clauses of the "protection of the nation" bill which aimed at giving a new constitutional status of state of emergency given high and continued terror alerts and to revoke citizenship of nationals convicted on terrorism charges.

The Senate, where the rightists enjoy majority, will examine the bill in mid March before passing it to the constitutional congress, where representatives from both houses have to approve the text by a three-fifths majority. Enditem