French police raid housing projects in Paris suburbs

French police carried out a series of high-profile raids in poor suburbs close to the capital on Monday, arresting dozens of people suspected of shooting at police and setting fires during three days of unrest last November.

The raids were supported by 1,100 police officers who surrounded buildings, forced open doors and searched homes in towns including Villiers-le-Bel and Sarcelles.

The sweep came less than a month before municipal elections that could deal a further blow to the standing of President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose approval ratings have plunged since his election last year.

Sarkozy vowed to reform France and improve law and order in its restive suburbs during his election campaign. But his popularity has plunged in recent months. Opinion polls blame his autocratic style, the rising cost of living and mounting criticism of his courtship of Carla Bruni and their marriage this month.

Government opponents immediately branded the unusually large police operation on Monday as an opportunistic bid to bolster support ahead of the elections.

"When cameras are taken along on massive police operations during an election period, I think it's a way of influencing opinion, with the goal of spreading fear," said Ségolène Royal, a prominent member of the Socialist Party who lost the May 2007 presidential elections to Sarkozy.

Police took 35 people into custody and were seeking several more on suspicion of arson and attempted murder of police officers during three nights of violence in Villiers-le-Bel last November, said a spokesman for the French police.