France mulls constitution change to extend state of emergency

PARIS: France plans to change the constitution to allow it to extend a state of emergency "to a maximum of six months", government sources said today.

They said the legal framework to extend special powers beyond the current three-month limit, set out by President Francois Hollande after last month's attacks on Paris, will be put to ministers on December 23.

But some criticism has emerged of the stringent security measures.

Lawyers and supporters of activists who have been placed under house arrest to prevent them from protesting during the UN climate talks taking place outside Paris have accused the government of abusing the powers.