French interior minister to visit scene of unrest

PARIS, Oct 5 (Reuters) Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie was to visit the scene of overnight disturbances today after reports that 40 hooded youths attacked police and fire-fighters in eastern France.

Youths armed with iron bars set about a police car and a fire-brigade vehicle in Saint-Dizier, about 200 km (125 miles) east of the capital Paris, France Info radio reported.

No injuries were reported and no arrests were made, the radio said. Police were not immediately available to confirm the details of the incident.

It was not clear what had sparked the unrest, which revived memories of riots in France's depressed, multi-ethnic suburbs in 2005, the worst in mainland France for 40 years.

REUTERS SYU PM1410