A cold wave which has seen below-zero temperatures in many cities throughout France for several days has led to the death of a 52-year-old unemployed man in the city of Le Mans, police said in a statement carried by DPA Thursday. The victim apparently froze to death on Wednesday in the wooden cabin without water or electricity in which he lived. Police said alcohol consumption was a factor in the man's death. The fatality was the second linked to the cold wave. On Tuesday, a homeless man in his forties was found dead in his car in Lyon, also because of the cold. However, there has been no repeat of the heavy snowfall that caused up to 10,000 people to spend Tuesday night in their cars in northeastern France and which led to traffic tie-ups on numerous motorways. According to meteorologists, the cold weather will end on Saturday. --SP 21 52 Local Time 18 52 GMT
