Dominique de Villepin’s decision to declare a state of emergency seemed to be paying off on Thursday as rioting abated across France and the prime minister’s response to the crisis met with broad public approval.

Nicolas Sarkozy, French interior minister, however, faced renewed criticism on Thursday for his hardline stance on foreigners, after he told parliament on Wednesday that if convicted of participating in the riots, they should be expelled, even if they held residence permits.