UN experts condemn excessive force against French student protesters

Four UN human rights experts have criticised France's 'excessive use of force' against nationwide student protests, saying the arrest and detention of several thousand people, mostly minors, appears disproportionate. The protests began in mid-September over run-down, overcrowded schools and widened to cost-of-living anger. France deployed 70,000 security personnel and arrested 1,000 people last Saturday.