Sarkozy stirs the merde ... then it hits the fan.

Argenteuil, N Paris (LATimes) October 26 Sarkozy led a media (and heavily policed) contingent to this poverty stricken area. He engaged in a test of wills with (what the reports describe as) gang leaders and Islamic fundamentalists, declaring that poor areas would be reclaimed with tough policing. Youths at the scene reacted to Sarkozy's comments by throwing objects and Sarkozy responded by calling them "thugs."

This was before the riots started.