France to extend state of emergency until May 2017

By Murat Unlu

PARIS (AA) - French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said Saturday that the country was planning to extend the state of emergency until the country's presidential election, which will be held between April 23 - May 7 2017.

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

During an interview with the BBC, Valls said France will hold the presidential election under the state of emergency.

"Due to the presidential election the rallies will begin in a few weeks. We have to protect our democracy." he said

There have been several terrorist attacks in France over the past few months. Most recently, a truck attack in the southern city of Nice in July killed 85 people, including 10 children, and wounded more than 100 others.