France extends state of emergency till May

The French parliament has extended the country's state of emergency after voting. The votes will see the state of emergency extended by a further three months. 

This will also permit authorities to continue police raids and put people under house arrest without prior authorisation of a judge.

The state of emergency has been in place since the November attacks that left at least 130 people dead across different locations in Paris. The vote will come as good news for French President Francois Hollande who had pushed for the extension of the state of emergency. 

212 deputies voted in favour of the extension while 31 objected with three absentees. The Senate had voted the previous day and also approved an extension with an overwhelming majority. 

Right groups are however claiming that the state of emergency undermines fundamental freedom but such allegations are unlikely to deter the government. 

The November 13 attacks were claimed by the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant (ISIL) group.