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France labour reform protests see clashes and arrests France labour reform: Hundreds of thousands protest
(about 7 hours later)
Fresh protests, some of them violent, have broken out across France against labour reforms. Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for nationwide protests in France against labour reforms.
Security forces clashed with demonstrators in the cities of Nantes and Rennes while police say around 10 people were arrested in Paris. More than 100 people were arrested after clashes with police, the interior ministry said.
A strike has disrupted travel, closed schools and shut the Eiffel Tower. Organisers said 1.2 million people took to the streets but official figures put it at about 400,000.
The government says the reforms making it easier to lay off workers will boost the economy by encouraging firms to hire more staff.The government says the reforms making it easier to lay off workers will boost the economy by encouraging firms to hire more staff.
But the proposals, which also include changes to France's 35-hour working week, have been bitterly opposed by students and unions as stripping away vital protections.But the proposals, which also include changes to France's 35-hour working week, have been bitterly opposed by students and unions as stripping away vital protections.
In Paris, demonstrators lobbed missiles at police. Students reportedly blockaded several schools, forcing their closure. It is the fourth such protest in the space of a month and the largest yet.
National rail operator SNCF warned of disruption to local and national train travel. Clashes between protesters and police were reported in the cities of Nantes, Rennes and Toulouse.
A separate strike by French air traffic controllers is also threatening travel for thousands of passengers. Thirteen members of the security forces were injured, according to the interior ministry.
In all, about 200 protests were predicted across France, the fourth nationwide demonstration in a month. But the protests were mostly peaceful. "We're here to fight for our rights otherwise we will lose everything," said one demonstrator in Paris.
They further pile pressure on President Francois Hollande, who has said he will not run again if he cannot bring down France's 10% unemployment level. "For us who are quite old it's ok but the worst is for our children and grandchildren. They will be left with nothing."
A strike disrupted travel, closed schools and shut the Eiffel Tower.
Dozens of fights were also cancelled because of a separate strike from air traffic controllers.
In another development, a police officer was detained after being seen allegedly punching a teenager on the sidelines of a protest last week. Footage of the incident went viral.
The protests further pile pressure on President Francois Hollande, who has said he will not run again if he cannot bring down France's 10% unemployment level.
On Wednesday he was forced to backtrack on a plan to change the constitution to strip militants convicted of terror attacks of French citizenship after the two houses of parliament failed to agree on it.On Wednesday he was forced to backtrack on a plan to change the constitution to strip militants convicted of terror attacks of French citizenship after the two houses of parliament failed to agree on it.
Parliament is due to vote on the labour reforms late next month or in early May.Parliament is due to vote on the labour reforms late next month or in early May.