The unrest and destruction that has plagued France for 10 straight days reached Paris early Sunday morning, with police saying 13 cars were burned.

At least 607 vehicles – including those in Paris -- were burned by 1 a.m. local time, said Patrick Hamon, spokesman for the national police. The overall figures were expected to climb by daybreak, he added.

The violence was originally concentrated in northeast Paris neighbourhoods with large immigrant populations. However, the violence has spread out across the country to include Normandy in the west and southern cities on the Mediterranean.

Hamon had no immediate information on the Paris neighbourhoods where the vehicles were set ablaze. Paris police headquarters said three cars were damaged by fire in the Republique section.

Hamon called the spreading arson "copycat" acts by vandals.

"All these hoodlums see others setting fires and say they can do it, too," said Hamon.

About 100 kilometres west of Paris, Evreux appeared to be hardest hit by marauding youths. Hamon estimated 50 vehicles there had likely been burned.

France is facing long-simmering anger in its suburbs, where many Africans, Arabs and their French-born children live on society's margins. Unemployment, poor housing, racial discrimination and crime are daily struggles for people living in these neighbourhoods.

On Saturday, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin met with ministers and community leaders.

He summoned the officials in a bid to formulate a plan that will restore order after unrest first erupted on Oct. 27, sparked by the deaths of two youths apparently fleeing police.

"Violence is not a solution," Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said Saturday.

"Once the crisis is over, everyone will have to understand there are a certain number of injustices in some neighborhoods. We are trying to be firm and avoid any provocation. We have to avoid any risk of explosion," said Sarkozy, who has been blamed for fanning tempers by calling rioters "scum."

After meeting with Villepin, Dalil Boubakeur, the head of a Paris mosque, urged a change in tone from the government.

"What I want from the authorities, from Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, the prime minister and senior officials are words of peace," he said.

Anti-violence demonstrations

Meanwhile on Saturday, hundreds of people joined rallies in Paris suburbs to protest against the continuing violence.

In Aulnay-sous-Bois, a rundown suburb northeast of Paris, more than 1,000 people filed past torched vehicles to demand calm, with banners reading "No to violence" and "Yes to dialogue."

Rioting first began in Clichy-sous-Bois on Oct. 27, following the accidental deaths of Bouna Traore, 15, and Zyed Benna, 17, in a power substation.

The two youths died of electrocution, while another was injured. Locals have said the boys hid in the substation to escape from pursuing police officers.

Police have denied the allegations, and a preliminary report has cleared officers of any wrongdoing in the teens' deaths.