French youths riots continue over death in custody

LYON, France (Reuters) - Youths in the southeastern French town of Firminy burnt cars and smashed shops for the third night in a row on Thursday in protest over the death in police custody of a young man.

The riots began late on Thursday after some 200 people staged a sit-in in front of the house of the family of Mohamed Benmouna, a local 21-year-old who died on Wednesday after what police said was a suicide attempt.

About 150 riot police were deployed, reinforced by a helicopter, as youths went on a rampage in the town centre, setting fire to a pharmacy, a bakery and several small shops.

Metal grills protecting the shops and stone-throwing by local youths made it difficult for emergency services to put out the fires, local authorities said.

Police said Benmouna used cords from a mattress to hang himself on Monday night and fell into a coma, but Benmouna's family have expressed scepticism.

They filed a lawsuit on Thursday to clarify the circumstances of his death, but asked people to stay calm.

An autopsy on Thursday confirmed he died of suffocation and his body showed no traces of violence, said the state prosecutor in Saint-Etienne, the nearest major city.

Pin rejected suggestions of police abuse but said video surveillance equipment that would normally have filmed Benmouna's cell was not functioning properly.

An inquiry into the case has been opened by the IGPN, the police inspectorate.