Paris police raid troubled estate

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More than 200 police officers have raided a tough housing estate near Paris where two policemen were ambushed and badly beaten up last week.

At least nine people were held on the Tarterets estate in Corbeil-Essonnes, just south of Paris, as youths hurled bottles at police, officials said.

French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has vowed to catch "one by one" those responsible for the ambush.

Last year, Corbeil-Essonnes and other Paris suburbs were engulfed in rioting.

Monday's raids were prompted by the assault on two riot policemen who were on patrol in Corbeil-Essonnes last Wednesday.

A hail of stones prompted one of the police officers to leave his car to investigate.

He was then attacked and badly beaten up by a gang of youths hiding in bushes.

His colleague, who rushed to help, was also attacked. Both policemen suffered multiple injuries.

Police unions expressed their outrage over the attack.

Mr Sarkozy vowed to catch the perpetrators and accused some judges of not having "the courage" to jail young offenders, triggering a public row.

On Friday, President Jacques Chirac stepped in to voice confidence in the judiciary, whose leaders had expressed their indignation.

However, opinion polls suggest that the French public shares Mr Sarkozy's view of the judges.