Paris police arrest 69 at World Cup celebrations

PARIS, July 2 (Reuters) Police arrested 69 people as troublemakers smashed Paris shop windows and set two cars ablaze during mostly peaceful celebrations of France's victory over Brazil in the World Cup quarter-finals, police said today.

A policewoman was treated in hospital after a bottle hit her in the face during the celebrations last night.

Waving flags and shouting ''We have won!'', some 500,000 soccer fans took to the boulevard Champs Elysees rollerblading, cycling or just walking.

They chanted ''Zizou, Zizou'' in honour of midfielder Zinedine Zidane and the comeback of ''Les Bleus'', who stunned Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 final.

Striker Thierry Henry volleyed home a free kick from Zidane for the winner after 57 minutes, securing the French team a place in the semi-final against Portugal on Wednesday.

Wearing a scarf in the colours of the French team, President Jacques Chirac said after the match he was full of ''immense joy''.

The victory comes at a welcome time for Chirac's government, which has seen its popularity tumble after riots in French suburbs last year, unrest over a job law this spring and a dirty tricks scandal involving senior politicians.

REUTERS PM HT1622