Volatile French suburb fears Sarkozy election win

CLICHY-SOUS-BOIS, France (Reuters) - Residents in a volatile Paris suburb that was at the centre of youth riots in 2005 fear an election win by right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy could spark another round of unrest.

Voters in Clichy-sous-Bois turned out in their droves on Sunday to give their overwhelming support to the Socialist candidate Segolene Royal who will face Sarkozy in a second round of the election on May 6.

Royal's score of 41.6 percent in the poor suburb housing a large immigrant population, was one of her highest in the Paris region as voters sent a message that they did not want Sarkozy, who was the national winner, to become the next president.

Royal scored 25.9 percent overall on Sunday, coming in behind Sarkozy, who won 31.2 percent of the vote.

The former interior minister's tough line on immigration and security combined with his heavy handed approach to the rioters infuriated many residents of the poor suburbs and they say that anger is still simmering away.

"There's a risk that things will hot up if he wins," said Elizabeth Geoffroy, a 35-year-old mother out for a walk with her three young boys. "It feels like it's in the air."

The morning after the first round vote the sun was shining brightly and Clichy-sous-Bois seemed peaceful. But last week, three TV crews were attacked, with the assailants stealing cameras and other filming equipment.

France's worst urban unrest in 40 years started in Clichy-sous-Bois in November 2005, when two teenagers were electrocuted in an electricity sub-station after apparently fleeing police.

Sarkozy was partly blamed for fuelling tensions among the youths when he visited another ethnically diverse Paris suburb and referred to the rioting youths as "scum".

"That really, really affected us and that's why we're worried," said Sonya Mezgain, a 38-year-old mother of two and another Clichy inhabitant.

VOTE RATHER THAN RIOT

Voter registration in the suburb surged after the riots with several organizations setting up to encourage the youths to express themselves in the presidential elections rather than through violence.

Samir Mihi works for the Association for Liberty Equality Fraternity Together United (ACLEFEU) helping the local youths.

He says it is good news for them that far-right National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, whose was campaigning for zero immigration and a huge increase in resources for police, posted his lowest election score since 1974.

But Mihi said he was worried about the strong first-round performance of Sarkozy, who moved further to the right to draw away some of Le Pen's support.

"It is not by putting riot police in our neighborhood that we will find work for young people or housing," said Mihi said.

He also fears new violence if Sarkozy wins.

"We mustn't talk too much about that type of reaction, because that's what encourages them," he said.

The local mayor Claude Dilain, who is a Socialist, shares Mihi's concerns and is calling for calm, whichever candidate wins the election.

"We're in a democratic system where we have the right to be angry or disappointed. The worst thing is to express anger through illegal acts or riots," he said.