French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has used a visit to the scene of the Nice terror attack to accuse the government of failing to tackle extremism.

Ms Le Pen walked along the Promenade des Anglais to pay tribute to the 86 victims of the 14 July attack, when a man deliberately drove a 19-ton truck into crowds of people celebrating Bastille Day.

Image: The Front National leader used the visit to attack the government

"I would like to see all the measures (against extremism) enforced so that the existing risk is brought back to its lowest," she told reporters.

"I have the feeling that, today, this risk remains at its highest."

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Image: The lorry was driven into a crowd during Bastille celebrations

And she attacked the government in the wake of unrest in some French cities.

"We are supposed to be in a State of Emergency but you realise that every night, across the Paris suburbs and now in several towns, we witness scenes of pillaging with police forces systematically targeted and property being set on fire," she said.

"All of this in total impunity. So we end up wondering where the government is. Where is the interior minister? He's not said anything. He's completely absent."

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Ms Le Pen made particular reference to the violence which followed a protest over the alleged rape of a black man by a police officer.

"Considering what had happened on previous nights, we knew very well that this demonstration was going to spin out of control and serve as an excuse for hundreds of thugs to destroy everything. And we let them do it.

"Once again, the government does nothing, says nothing, when faced with these thugs.

"The government is scared. And there's nothing worse than a government that is scared."

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The National Front candidate wants France to take better control of its borders so it can fight illegal arrivals - leaving the Schengen free borders agreement as well as the European Union.

Latest polls indicate Ms Le Pen will top the first round of presidential voting on 23 April, with centre candidate Emmanuel Macron second and centre-right candidate Francois Fillon a point behind in third.

Under France's electoral system, the top two from the opening round go into a run-off, and current polls show either Mr Macron or Mr Fillon winning comfortably against Ms Le Pen.