France Bans Public Gatherings in Paris After Call for Violence Nov. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Franc... France Bans Public Gatherings in

Nov. 12 (Bloomberg) -- France banned all public gatherings in central Paris that might create disorder, to head off calls for violence in the capital after two weeks of civil unrest in French suburbs that has led to a total of 2,440 arrests.

Rioting that has plagued poorer districts since Oct. 27 continued last night, with 502 cars torched around the country and 206 arrests made, the police said today. That compares to 463 cars and 206 arrests the night before and marks the first increase in burnt cars in five days.

The government imposed the ban after police and security services found Web sites and text messages calling for violence on the Champs Elysees, at the Eiffel Tower and in other places around Paris. The restrictions have been made under state-of-emergency regulations brought into force in France this week for the first time in 50 years in a bid to curb the rioting.

The restriction was put in place at 10 a.m. today and will last until 8 a.m. tomorrow, Pierre Mutz, the Prefect of Paris, said in a statement. The Prefect, who is the local representative of the national government, said infractions could lead to eight days imprisonment or 3,750-euro ($4,389) fines.

Gaudin said levels of unrest in the Paris region had become ``practically normal,'' with 86 cars burned last night, which he said was typical before riots began two weeks ago. That's down from 111 vehicles torched the night before.

The riots erupted after two boys, aged 15 and 17, were electrocuted on Oct. 27 by high-voltage equipment in an electricity substation where they took refuge fleeing a police check in Clichy-sous-Bois.

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