BBC News Online: World: Europe

France adopts new terror law

French security has already been stepped up

The new laws extend police powers to search private property, including cars, and bolster security in public places.

Shopping centres and sports facilities are also set to be protected under the law, as well as airports and harbours.

Introducing the legislation to parliament, the Interior Minister, Daniel Vaillant, said fighting terrorism boosted freedom, rather than restricting it.

"Collective security is not the enemy of individual freedom," he said.

"The scale of the attacks in the United States and the way they were carried out has made us aware that no one is safe from such terrorist acts.

"We now speak in terms of before and after September 11."

Under existing laws, cars are currently classed as "private places" in France, and police do not have the right to carry out searches without a warrant.

In 1995, a similar plan, which would have allowed police to search cars parked near street protests, was thrown out by constitutional watchdogs on the grounds that it would have encroached on personal freedom.