police arrest a man in relation to a killing of a British family in the French Alps. 23 February – Six police officers are injured when protests against the construction of a new airport in Nantes turns violent. March 6 March – Le Monde runs a story claiming that the phone of former President Nicolas Sarkozy had been tapped by judges investigating alleged financial links between him and the former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. It is also alleged that the taps contain evidence of Sarkozy attempting to interfere with judicial inquiries. 11 March – Fourteen Caribbean nations file a lawsuit against the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands for damages caused during the Atlantic slave trade. 14 March – Several days of calm weather conditions cause a large buildup of airborne pollutants across much of France, leading to health alert warnings being declared in almost 75% of the country. In a bid to cut further air pollution, transport authorities in Paris, Caen, Grenoble, Reims and Rouen respond by offering free public transport over the weekend. 17 March – With air pollution exceeding safe levels for five consecutive days, authorities in Paris begin restricting the private use of cars and motorcycles to alternate days only. The measure polarises opinion and thousands of fines are handed out to drivers breaking the restriction before it is lifted the following day. 23 March – The first round of the 2014 municipal elections takes place, with support for the governing Socialist Party declining and support for the right-wing National Front increasing. A BVA poll reports UMP leading with 48% of the vote, ahead of the Socialists on 43% and National Front on 7%. 26 March – Figures released by the Ministry of Labour show a 0.9% rise in unemployment in February. The total jobless count in mainland France now stands at 3.347 million. 30 March – The second round of the municipal elections takes place: Substantial gains are made by the parties of the right, with UMP taking control in at least 140 towns and National Front winning power in 11 towns, while the Socialists suffer heavy losses, most prominently at Limoges which they had held since 1912. The election is marked by a low turnout, with 38% of voters abstaining from voting. Anne Hidalgo of the Socialist Party is elected Mayor of Paris, becoming the first woman to hold the position. One week after