Try this article here .

It's really difficult for us, French, to know what is actually going on, because TVnews are looking like propaganda and .
There is no African rebellion nor open ethnic war. Riots are very localized. Yerterday Clichy mayor told that the riots took place on onre or two plots (100 meters around one or two cross-roads)and the rest of the town was calm. Most of the resident heard about the troubles on radio. Some say that policemen keeped up the troubles by telling racial insults, firing a tear gas grenade as muslims were praying and calling whores the women rushing out. It's quite impossible to verify. Burning cars has become a favourite game in some city suburbs. Especially on December 31th in Strasbourg and my hometown Le Havre.

Troubles are caused mainly by underage people at loose end, hanging around until 2 or 3AM. Some are drug dealers who consider police as just another gang.

The excuses were the two guys'death in Clichy and French "ministre de l'Intérieur" (I can't remember the term in English or American for the secretary in charge of police) naming them 'racaille' which both means thug and rabble. It has nothing to do with religion (some of the thugs are white christian youngsters)

Of course, finding a job when you leave in these suburbs is difficult, all the more so that you leave in those suburbs. Its'far worse if your name sounds Arabic or your skin is black. Such riots won't make things better.

I can hardly believe there's more violence in France than other European countries or the USA. No more, no less..

France is not Tchetchenia nor Iraq. Keep your mind at rest, you can still come and visit us. Despite you'll find no tanks in our towns or cities, they are reasonably safe.