France mulls idea of curfew for young delinquents

A proposal floated by French Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux to impose a nighttime curfew on juvenile delinquents under age 13 has sparked mixed reactions among lawmakers.

The head of the opposition Socialist Party has suggested the idea is unworkable _ particularly given recent cuts to the police force. A lawmaker from the conservative governing UMP party, Pierre Cardo, also expressed his "extreme reservations" about the idea.

However, another UMP official hailed the idea. In a statement Wednesday, Eric Ciotti, the head of security matters for the party, called it a "courageous initiative."

The UMP and President Nicolas Sarkozy have long striven to be seen as taking a hard line on security matters.

Hortefeux floated the idea on Tuesday night.