France's parliament approves new anti-terrorism law

PARIS: France's lower house of parliament overwhelmingly approved a new counter-terrorism law on Tuesday, making permanent several controversial measures under the state of emergency that has been in place for nearly two years.

The law was approved by 415 votes to 127, with 19 abstentions, at its first reading.

The bill has faced criticism that it will undermine civil liberties, but it has broad backing from a public traumatised by a string of jihadist attacks.

The vote comes just two days after more bloodshed, with a suspected Islamist radical stabbing two 20-year-old women to death in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille.

In Paris, anti-terrorism police are also investigating the discovery of several gas cannisters and a suspected cell phone detonator in the hallway of a building in the wealthy 16th district on Saturday.