French parliament approves anti-terrorism law

France's National Assembly, the parliament's lower house, on Tuesday approved counter-terrorism legislation which empowers police at times when a terror threat is "extreme".

A total of 415 lawmakers endorsed the government's proposal to turn emergency security rules into law; with 127 deputies, notably those representing the hard left, against the legislation.

The new law will grant police more power to search and arrest without a judge's approval and restrict people movements and gatherings.

To supporters, the legislation is needed as the country "remains in a state of war".

"We have to protect and preserve what our country's values against terrorism. Justice and freedom, the heart of our system, is what terrorists want to destroy," Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said after the vote.

"The number (of lawmakers who approved the bill) shows that they are aware that the menace is serious," he added.

Despite persistent terror risks, prolonging the state of emergency gives fuel to domestic critics of the French government who say the law would undermine the republic's values and freedom of expression and right to assembly.

In a statement released in September, Human Rights Watch said "France's new counter-terrorism bill grants the executive far-reaching powers to clamp down on the ability of ordinary people in France to worship, assemble, move freely, express themselves and enjoy their privacy."

Former president Francois Hollande imposed the state of emergency in November 2015 following a series of coordinated terror attack in Paris that killed 130 people.

The state of emergency has so far been extended six times, and is currently set to expire on Nov. 1.

Over the past two years, France has seen several terrorist attacks the latest of which was a knifeman stabbing to death two young women at a railway station in the port city of Marseille on Oct. 1. The Islamic State (IS) had claimed responsibility for the attack.