Paris riots: Russia is criticizing French "powerlessness"

From Brother Drudge:

Russian media criticize French 'powerlessness' against riots
Tue Nov 08 2005 09:30:46 ET

Russian newspapers criticized French authorities Tuesday for being "powerless" in the face of urban riots as a leading nationalist lawmaker called for increased police checks on immigrants in Russia.

"During 10 days of rioting, the authorities showed their powerlessness in confronting the situation," the Kommersant daily said, warning of "a grave political crisis" and a possible "immigrant revolution" across France.

French President Jacques Chirac displayed "quite indecisive behaviour faced with the biggest upheaval in contemporary French history," the Gazeta daily said, attacking the "lack of agreement within the government."

Also Tuesday, nationalist parliament deputy Dmitry Rogozin urged Russia's interior ministry to increase checks on immigrants and identify "potential instigators" of riots.

"The interior ministry should take preventive measures against those who could organise unrest, up to and including detention and deportation," Rogozin said in an interview with the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily.

Rogozin said law enforcement forces should increase checks on diasporas from the Caucasus and Central Asia "with the aim of preventing violent action by illegal immigrants in Moscow and other cities."