PARIS, Jan 3, SPA -- France's Cabinet on Tuesday approved thelifting of a state of emergency imposed during three weeksof rioting and arson across the country, a ministerconfirmed. The order was to take effect Wednesday, ending theemergency measures more than six weeks earlier thanoriginally planned, the Associated Press reported. Earlier Tuesday, before the Cabinet meeting, Chiracconfirmed that the state of emergency will be lifted. "Considering the situation of these past several weeks, Idecided to end it," Chirac said in a New Year's greetingto his ministers. The president said the emergency measureshad been precautionary and "strictly temporary."--SPA 15 18 Local Time 12 18 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/316558