France to end state of emergency on July 26: President

PARIS – France’s state of emergency declared in the wake of last November’s deadly attacks will end on July 26 as scheduled, and will not be extended, French President Francois Hollande confirmed Thursday.

France has been under a state of emergency and high terrorism alert since a Daesh-blamed attack last November killed 130 people across Paris.

"We cannot extend the state of emergency forever. It is part of exceptional situations,” said Hollande in a traditional Bastille Day interview.

The state of emergency was extended three times: twice for three months, and the last time, on May 19, for two months to ensure security during the UEFA Euro 2016, which ended on July 10, and the Tour de France, world's biggest road cycling competition which ends on July 24.

Each extension led civil rights groups to raise concerns, as extra emergency powers allowed police to conduct searches without warrants, ban mass public gatherings, and place people under house arrest without judicial approval.

Hollande said, however, that the Vigipirate security alert -- France’s highest security level -- will be maintained at its maximum level against "persistent threats".

France has been under the alert since January 2015, following two deadly attacks on the headquarters of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Kosher store, leaving 17 people dead.

Hollande also said his country will strengthen “support for the Iraqis to regain control of the city of Mosul", now held by Daesh.