France tightens security ahead of COP21

PARIS - Already at high terror alert, France planned to pour 8,000 policemen and gendarmes across the country to secure the national borders and ensure the safety at home where the 21th United Nations conference on climate change is scheduled for next week, a government official said on Wednesday.

"In the context of high (terror) threat", Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, announced the deployment of 8,000 policemen and gendarmes at French borders and additional 2,800 units to secure Le Bourget site which is due to host the high-profile gathering on climate change.

"The success of the COP21 also means the event's optimal security of the event. Everything is done to secure as much as possible the conference itself and the near areas," he said.

Cazeneuve added 120,000 servicemen have been deployed across the country after the Nov 13 attacks to guarantee the security.

In the wake of the bloody wave of explosions and shooting which left 130 victims a few days ago, France canceled the "massive marches planned in public places in Paris and other French cities on Nov. 29 and Dec. 12," said Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who also will chair the COP21 conference.

However, all the demonstrations organized in closed spaces or in places where security can easily be ensured would be maintained, he added in a recent statement.

At the summit, 147 top officials and heads of governments will participate in talks to trim global warming with about 40,000 visitors, including more than 3,000 journalists, were expected to attend the conference, according to official data.

The COP21 will kick off on Nov 30.