PARIS, Nov 15: France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen has said that the Socialist government badly needed to toughen up on security following the attacks in Paris that left at least 129 people dead.
“The nation must remain united,” she said in response to President Francois Hollande’s call for the country to stand united across the political spectrum in the face of the tragedy.
But in a taste of potential opposition criticism over lax security, she added: “Beyond words, only forceful relentless action can protect the French and maintain this unity.(But) France and the French are no longer safe (and) urgent measures are needed.”
Saying France had become “vulnerable”, she called for Islamist organisations to be banned and radical mosques closed.
“Foreigners who preach hatred must be expelled as well as illegals who have nothing to do here,” she said.
Earlier, conservative opposition leader and former president Nicolas Sarkozy also put the accent on tight security.
“The terrorists have engaged in war with France,” he said. “The war we must wage must be total, our duty is to take the extreme seriousness of the situation into account and draw the consequences, in terms of action.”
The coordinated attacks in Paris claimed by the Islamic State group left the seven gunmen and suicide bombers dead and injured 352 people injured, 99 of them in critical state.
A Syrian passport was found near the remains of one suicide bomber, the Paris prosecutor said, while another of the seven was identified as a French national known to intelligence services. (AGENCIES)
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