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Youths in riot-hit Paris suburb doubt poll promises

18 août 2006, 00:00

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France’s riot-hit suburbs are high on parties’ agendas ahead of next year’s presidential poll, but youths in the poor neighbourhoods doubt the campaign promises will help cut crime or create jobs.

France was shocked by riots last November when suburban youths – many of them descendants of immigrants from Africa – set thousands of cars ablaze, protesting against racial discrimination, unemployment and their bleak prospects.

Conservative presidential frontrunner, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, and his likely Socialist challenger, Segolene Royal, have both grabbed headlines with tough proposals on how to eradicate crime and improve life in the suburbs. Their parties have also promised new steps to help boost youth employment.

In the grim housing estates of Clichy-Sous-Bois, where the riots started last year, youngsters were, however unimpressed.

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