French president Francois Hollande to ask for country's state of emergency to be extended

Extension: French president Francois Hollande wants the state of emergency to be granted for another three months
EPA/CAROLINE BLUMBERG
Laura Proto22 January 2016

President Francois Hollande is set to ask French parliament to extend the state of emergency put in place after the Paris attacks for another three months.

It will be the second time the measure, which was implemented after the terrorist attacks on November 13, has been prolonged.

A total of 130 people were killed after gunmen opened fire at venues across the French capital, including at the Bataclan concert hall during an Eagles of Death Metal concert.

The president's office said Mr Hollande cited "the terrorist threat" in asking the government to present a Bill at the cabinet meeting on February 3, seeking a three-month extension of the state of emergency.

The current state of emergency is due to expire at the end of February.

A state of emergency gives special powers to authorities and makes it easier to place people under house arrest and conduct searches.

But critics contend the measure impinges on personal freedoms to little effect.

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