How to point directory to load index with .htaccess - php

Question

I am trying to configure .htaccess for my web site.
there are two folders in my web site 1 - app , 2 - public.
i want to load index.php from public folder and restrict all direct access to app folder
the .htaccess i am using returns result 403 Forbidden, but if i move index.php in root directory it is working, i just want to point that index.php is in public directory and send all requests there.
Options -Indexes
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /public/
# Force to exclude the trailing slash
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (.*)/$
RewriteRule ^(.+)/$ $1 [R=307,L]
# Restrict php files direct access
RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} ^.+?\ [^?]+\.php[?\ ]
RewriteRule \.php$ - [F]
# Allow any files or directories that exist to be displayed directly
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php?$1 [QSA,L]
</IfModule>

Answer 1

Well i solved this problem like this,
for root directory i managed .htaccess like the code given down, the idea is to redirect all calls to public dir.
Options -Indexes
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule ^$ public/ [L]
RewriteRule (.*) public/$1 [L]
</IfModule>
And for filtering requests i used to put second .htaccess to public dir
Options -Indexes
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
# Force to exclude the trailing slash
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (.*)/$
RewriteRule ^(.+)/$ $1 [R=307,L]
# Restrict php files direct access
RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} ^.+?\ [^?]+\.php[?\ ]
RewriteRule \.php$ - [F]
# Allow any files or directories that exist to be displayed directly
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php?$1 [QSA,L]
</IfModule>