French rioters attack police in Lyon, Paris calm Associated Press Paris, November 14, 2005
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Rioters pelted stones at police in the historic heart of Lyon and youths rammed a burning car into a centre for retirees in southern France in a 17th night of urban violence. Paris was calm, despite fears of a rampage in the capital.

Across the country, the situation appeared quieter on Monday, with fewer car-torchings -- a barometre of the unrest.

Youths burned 374 vehicles nationwide, down from 502 the night before. Police took 212 people into custody overnight.

National Police Chief Michel Gaudin said on Monday there had been a "major lull."

If it continues, "things could return to normal very quickly," he said at a news conference.

Unrest has weakened in intensity since the government declared a state-of-emergency Wednesday, empowering local authorities to invoke exceptional security measures such as curfews for minors.

Neighbouring Belgium registered its worst night in a week of attacks on vehicles apparently inspired by French events, with 29 cars, trucks and buses torched around the country, the government said on Monday.

In the Dutch city of Rotterdam youths set four cars on fire overnight and threw a molotov cocktail at a home in a working class neighbourhood, police said on Monday. Dutch police did not make any arrests and were searching for the culprits.

In France, the violence started in the Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois on October 27 when about 100 youths rioted to protest the accidental deaths of two Muslim teens who were electrocuted while hiding from police in an electricity substation.

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