Rioters continued to set fires and cause damage throughout the country as France experienced its 12th consecutive night of violence.
President Jacques Chirac has announced that he is imposing a national curfew and is calling up police reservists as he declared a state of emergency. The violence, which started in the suburbs of Paris, has now spread to more than 300 cities and towns across the country.
In the southern city of Toulouse, rioters set fire to a bus shortly after ordering the passengers off it. Police were pelted with gas bombs and rocks and a nursery school was set ablaze.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin was asked by TF1-TV if the army would be brought in. Villepin replied, 'We are not at that point.'
But, he added, 'at each step, we will take the necessary measures to re-establish order very quickly throughout France. That is our prime duty: ensuring everyone's protection.'
French authorities say the number of violent incidents has actually been reduced on Monday night as compared to previous evenings. For example, Monday night there were 814 cars burned nationwide as compared to 1,400 car burnings the night before. The number of people arrested also went down Monday night from 395 on Sunday night to 193.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Chirac expressed regret over the 'ghettoization of youths of African or North African origin' and recognized 'the incapacity of French society to fully accept them,' according to Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga.
France 'has not done everything possible for these youths, supported them so they feel understood, heard and respected,' Chirac added.
Prime Minister Villepin did not discount the possibility that radical Islamists are behind the violence, saying, 'That element must not be neglected.' France has approximately 5 million Muslims, the largest community of Muslims in western Europe.
