‘We are all children of Republic,’ says Chirac

FRENCH President Jacques Chirac said yesterday that ending the country’s rioting and arson was his priority, but acknowledged that discrimination and lack of equality are driving frustrations among the young people rebelling in largely immigrant suburbs.

Meanwhile, eight police officers were suspended after a young man was beaten in the troubled Paris suburban region where the unrest broke out two weeks ago.

Two were suspected of dealing “unwarranted blows” to the man questioned on Monday in La Courneuve, while the other six were alleged witnesses, the Interior Ministry said.