PARIS, Nov. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Violence continued to spread on the 12th night of the riot touched off by the death of two teenagers, with 226 towns wrecked and 1,173 vehicles torched overnight from Monday to Tuesday, and 330 people were arrested, mainly youths, police said on Tuesday.

    The figures were lower than the night before, possibly signaling a tapering off of the unrest that has raged since Oct. 27, French National Police Chief Michel Gaudin said at a news conference. "The intensity of this violence is on the way down."

    Twelve police officers were lightly hurt during the night, while a dozen buildings were hit by arsonists.

    President Jacques Chirac convened an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday to empower local authorities to impose curfews on lawless suburbs if necessary to restore public order.

    Many countries have issued travel warnings to their citizens against traveling to France and they include the United States, Japan, Australia, Britain, Germany and Russia.

    However, French Tourism Minister Leon Bertrand insisted the country remained safe for tourists.

    The violence began in Clichy-sous-bois, northeast of Paris, on Oct. 27 when two teenagers were accidentally electrocuted while hiding in an electrical sub-station to flee a police identity check. Enditem