LOC22:02
19:02 GMT
PARIS, Nov 18 (KUNA) -- The French National Assembly, or lower house of parliament, Wednesday finished debated extending "State of Emergency" law for an additional three months after it was initially decreed Friday by government after a wave of terror attacks in Paris.
The House, having debated the law, has now broken off into political parties to discuss and decide on how to vote on the three-month extension of the special powers law on Thursday. The French Senate, or upper house, will vote on the emergency law on Friday, parliamentary sources said.
The emergency laws give sweeping powers to security, judicial and intelligence services and allow for searches without warrant, house arrests, seizures, detentions, surveillance and requisitions, among other powers.
Police and judicial officials will be allowed to ban marches or rallies, to close cinemas or other entertainment sites and also have restriction powers on travel both inside and outside of France.
The government decreed the emergency powers on Friday after 129 people were killed and 352 wounded in a series of terrorist shootings and bombing in and around Paris.
The State of Emergency situation has only been called on three occasions since 1960, during the Algerian crisis in 1961, in New Caledonia in 1985 after a revolt, and in 2005 after widespread rioting throughout France.
President Hollande said that the new legislation would be submitted for legal review to the Council of State, but it is almost certain that the laws will fly through given the atmosphere after the terror attacks. (end)
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