Riots Worsen In France

Youths fired at police and hurled flaming Molotov cocktails at churches, schools, cars and a daycare center in an 11th night of violence in France, sending a "shock wave across the country," according to national police chief Michel Gaudin.

Police say vandals burned 1,408 vehicles across France, setting a new high for overnight arson attacks since the unrest started Oct. 27. The figure was an increase from the 1,295 vehicles torched the night before.

"We are witnessing a sort of shock wave that is spreading across the country," Gaudin said, noting that the violence appeared to be sliding away from Paris and worsening elsewhere in France.

The rioting erupted Oct. 27 after two teenagers of north African descent were accidentally electrocuted as they hid in a power substation, apparently believing police were chasing them. Anger was then fanned anew days ago when a tear gas bomb exploded in a mosque in Clichy-sous-Bois — the northern suburb where the youths died.

The violence has prompted soul-searching about how to ease anger and frustration among troubled youths in France's grim public housing estates, where many residents are minorities. Educators met the French prime minister to think of ways to help.

"These are young people who are generally resigned, they face discrimination everywhere, for housing and work, and their malaise gets expressed in violence," said Ahmed Touabi, principal of an elementary school in the Paris suburb of Argenteuil. The troublemakers "feel rejected by France, and they want to spit on France."

"It's not a solution to burn cars, that's not a solution," said Florent Yapo, the owner of a torched car in Argenteuil. "Frankly I don't understand it, it's nonsense."

Police said Monday that 395 people have been arrested nationwide.

Ten riot police were injured by youths firing fine-grain birdshot in a late night clash in the southern Paris suburb of Grigny, national police spokesman Patrick Hamon said. Two were hospitalized but police say their lives are not in danger.

It is the first time police were injured by weapons fire since the unrest started nearly two weeks ago.

The violence came in open defiance to a warning by French President Jacques Chirac, who has vowed to clamp down on the troublemakers.

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