State will pay for Strasbourg damage

STRASBOURG will receive compensation for the damage caused by rioters during a Nato summit.

The Interior Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie has announced that the government will foot the bill after questions were raised about the effectiveness of policing during the summit.

The minister said the state would help all those who had suffered losses to property or business as a result of the riots.

Ms Alliot-Marie defended the police and said they had “acted with professionalism” against “the real threat of extremist violent gangs”.

STORY:Rioters must be punished severely

Several protesters were given prison sentences of up to six months on Monday for crimes including throwing stones at police and carrying offensive weapons.

Photo:Afp/Frederic Florin