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France plans to extend state of emergency to ensure security at sports events: PM

Xinhua, April 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

France plans to extend its state of emergency for another two months to guarantee security during big sports events this summer, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Wednesday.

"The state of emergency cannot be permanent," Valls told France Info radio, stressing that, however, security must be guaranteed during the upcoming Euro 2016 football tournament and the Tour de France.

The one-month European football tournament will start on June 10 while the bicycle race Tour de France is scheduled for July 2 to July 24.

Valls said that Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve would present the proposal at a cabinet meeting later Wednesday which would be submitted to parliament for a vote.

French President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency on Nov. 14, 2015, a day after the Paris attacks that left 130 dead, with the aim to empower the police to conduct house-searches and arrest suspects.

A previous extension of the state of emergency was announced in February, which was set to run until May 26. Endi