Off the wire
• Chinese FM calls for enhanced ties with Australia  • China expresses grief over death of former UN chief  • Nigerian gov't downplays resurgence of Boko Haram despite more attacks  • Suicide bombing kills 13 in Yemen's Aden  • Argentina reaches debt agreement with holdouts  • About 1 mln African children at risk of malnutrition: UNICEF  • Roundup: Currency depreciation, oil crisis affect Nigeria's economy  • Africa Economy: China is the leading financier of infrastructure projects in Africa  • China is "open" to TTIP if it is open: official  • UN official urged to be fair on China human rights development  
You are here: 　 Home

France's National Assembly renews state of emergency for 3 more months

Xinhua, February 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

The French National Assembly has given the green light to prolong a state of emergency for a further three months as terror alerts remain high.

A total of 212 lawmakers endorsed the government proposal late Tuesday to extend the state of emergency until the end of May 26, while 31 deputes opposed it.

The state of emergency had already been prolonged in November and was scheduled to end on Feb. 26.

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

"This is to enable our country to face an unprecedented serious threat...the government has decided to take, in full respect of the principles of the rule of law, exceptional measures," Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told lawmakers.

According to the minister, 3,379 raids have been launched so far, with 344 people being placed under custody and 580 weapons being seized.

Earlier this month, the lower house of parliament voted to amend the constitution in a way to endorse any state of emergency that could last for a maximum of four months before requiring another approval. Endi