How the unrest spread

Oct 27 – Two black teenagers are electrocuted while they are believed to be hiding from police in an electricity substation in Clichy-sous-Bois, a suburb of north-east Paris. A third teenager of Turkish origin is badly injured in the incident.

Night of Oct 27 / 28 – Dozens of young immigrants in Clichy-sous-Bois throw stones at police and firefighters and set fire to cars in protest at the death of the two teenagers.

Oct 28 – Nicolas Sarkozy, interior minister, says police were not chasing the two teenagers, whom he claims fled when the police interrupted a burglary.

Night of Oct 28 / 29 – Hundreds of young immigrants clash with riot police in Clichy-sous-Bois and neighbouring Montfermeil. Live ammunition is fired at police.

Oct 29 – A silent demonstration in Clichy-sous-Bois in memory of the two dead teenagers. The state prosecutor says the teenagers fled a police identity check and wrongly thought they were being chased.

Night of Oct 30 / 31 – During the fourth consecutive night of riots in Clichy-sous-Bois, a police tear gas grenade explodes at the local mosque during evening prayers.

Night of Oct 31 / Nov 1 – Rioting spreads from Clichy-sous-Bois to several neighbouring suburbs.

Nov 1 – Dominique de Villepin receives the family of the two dead teenagers. Azouz Begag, minister for equal opportunity and close ally of the prime minister, criticises Mr Sarkozy for calling troublemakers in the suburbs “riffraff”.

Night of Nov 1 / 2 – Riots spread to four regions on the outskirts of Paris.

Nov 2 – Mr de Villepin cancels a state visit to Canada and promises a plan of action by the end of the month. Mr Sarkozy cancels a visit to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Night of Nov 3 / 4 – Riots spread to other parts of France, including Dijon, Marseilles and Rouen. More live ammunition is fired at police.

Night of Nov 5 / 6 – Protesters burn 30 cars in the third arrondissment of Paris, as riots spread to the centre of the French capital for the first time.

Nov 6 – Jacques Chirac makes his first public comments on the riots, demanding the “restoration of security and public order”.

Night of Nov 6 / 7 – The worst night of violence to date as 1,408 vehicles are set on fire, 395 people are arrested and 36 policemen are injured, as riots affect 274 towns.

Night of Nov 7 / 8 - Violence eases in Paris but there are breakouts in the cities of Toulouse and Lille.

Nov 8 - French government approved the introduction of measures allowing allows local authorities to impose a state of emergency in cities and towns. The police are also to be allowed to carry out raids on properties where they suspect weapons are being stored.

Nov 9 - France invoked curfew laws in major cities as Nicolas Sarkozy, interior minister, told parliament 120 foreigners convicted of participating in the riots would be expelled, even if they held residence permits.

Nov 13 - Lyons followed Paris in imposing a ban on groups of potential troublemakers from congregating. The European Union offers France €50m to help rebuild its troubled urban areas.

Nov 14 - Jacques Chirac, in his first televised address since the riots began, describes the unrest as a sign of a “deep malaise” in France.