Gendarmes patrol the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2005

Police in the eastern French city of Lyon have used tear gas to disperse stone-throwing young people as the violence in the country's cities moved into its 17th day.

Authorities report at least one arrest in the Lyon clashes that followed the announcement of a nighttime curfew that bars minors from city streets from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time. The curfew is to go into effect this Saturday evening and expire Monday morning.

Meanwhile, officials are enforcing a ban on public gatherings in Paris after another night of disturbances in predominantly Muslim inhabited areas of the country. The Paris restrictions, to remain in effect until early Sunday (0700 UTC), follow interception of Internet and text messages urging rioters to gather in downtown areas of the city.

Police say the riots involve young people from the country's North African minority population, who have complained of harassment, racism and job discrimination.