France has announced nightly curfews in Paris and other large cities, according to The Washington Post. The paper reports that the restrictions will remain in force "for as long as necessary."
The announcement follows a weekend of unrest in the country. Reuters reports that France is deploying troops and has acknowledged failures in its handling of the disturbances.
Marseille is bracing for further trouble after protests there turned into what the BBC described as "apocalyptic" disorder. The scale of the unrest has drawn wider scrutiny. The Guardian examined the conduct of French police, arguing that their role is to protect the state rather than the public. CNN, meanwhile, asked whether the crisis in France could be repeated in the United States.
The curfews are the most direct response so far from the French authorities, though the reporting available does not specify the hours of the restrictions, the exact list of cities covered, or the penalties for breaking them.
Troop deployments and curfews in major cities mark a significant escalation, and the government's admission of failures suggests it is under pressure to explain how the weekend's disorder unfolded. The Washington Post's phrasing indicates the measures have no fixed end date.
What to watch next: whether Marseille sees renewed unrest, and whether the government sets any conditions for lifting the curfews.
