France`s government has issued a decree declaring a state of emergency in Paris and more than 30 other towns following a 13th night of rioting.
Only Amiens, in the north, has so far imposed an overnight curfew under the new powers - in force since midnight - but more are likely to follow.
Police said levels of violence across the country were lower overnight, with fewer cars set alight. However, Lyon`s entire public transport network was shut by a petrol bombing.
The areas covered by the special decree, giving local authorities and police emergency powers to deal with rioters, were listed on Wednesday. They extend from the English Channel to the Mediterranean, including Paris suburbs and major cities such as Lille, Marseille and Toulouse, where police clashed with groups of youths overnight.
Two Paris suburbs, Savigny-sur-Orge and Le Raincy, as well as the historic city of Orleans, have already declared separate curfews not covered by the law.
On Wednesday, police reported a drop in the level of violence across France as a whole, with the number of cars set alight falling to 617, hundreds fewer than the night before. Some 280 people were arrested and disturbances broke out in 116 areas, half the number affected the preceding night.
Meanwhile Russian journalists were attacked in Lion. They were shooting group of program "Vesti". Correspondent Ivan Rodionov with operator Andrey Putra went to immigrant housing estate on outskirts of Lion to interview local imam. By the way they stopped on Lenin boulevard where operator decided to record several general views of region. At this moment several teenagers began throwing of cobbles at journalist`s car. Automobile was significantly damaged but journalists with their equipment stayed safe.
Bbc news
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