Eighty fire fighters tackle blaze in Paris

Eighty fire-fighters were fighting a blaze in the centre of Paris tonight close to the Pompidou Centre and Paris City Hall, a fire brigade spokesman.

Twenty-two fire engines from eight fire stations were mobilised to tackle the blaze, which sent a thick plume of smoke into the evening sky, the fire brigade said.

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties.

The blaze was the latest in a spate of fires in the French capital which have killed 24 people, mostly Africans, and raised questions over fire safety and the treatment of immigrants.

After the latest fire on Monday, in which seven people died, President Jacques Chirac demanded action on fire safety to prevent further tragedies.