France labour dispute: Fury as police ban Paris rally
France labour dispute: Ban on Paris protest 'lifted'
(35 minutes later)
French police have imposed a ban on a demonstration by unions in Paris on Thursday, citing violence which marred previous protests.
A French union says it has secured the government's agreement to allow a protest march on Thursday in Paris.
The planned march was the latest in a series of mass demonstrations and strike action against controversial changes to employment laws.
Philippe Martinez, the head of the left-wing CGT union, made the announcement following an emergency meeting with the interior minister.
Union leaders had previously rejected a government offer to allow a stationary rally instead.
If confirmed, it would reverse a police statement earlier on Wednesday banning the demonstration.
Some now say they will risk large fines or even prison to defy the ban.
Police had insisted any rally would have to be stationary, citing violence at a Paris protest last week.
There have been outraged reactions on Twitter, with some now saying there are two reasons to protest: against the draft labour law and in favour of the right to protest.
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In a communique (in French), the Paris police force said it had "made known its concerns about Thursday's planned protest in view of the high pressures placed on police in previous months, the demands of policing the Euros and the significant terrorist threat".
In addition, it said, previous protests had descended to unacceptable levels of violence, with many members of the security forces injured.
It singled out the last protest on 14 June, when hundreds of masked protesters threw chunks of paving and set cars ablaze and a children's hospital in central Paris was badly damaged. Police responded with tear gas and water cannon.
The protests coincided with the Euro 2016 football championship, which were marred by fan violence in Marseille and Lille.
Defiance
Alternative proposals, the police said, "address neither the security needs of people and property, nor the demands on police resources given the terrorist threat".
Given that the offer to hold a static protest had been rejected, the communique said, the police commissioner "has no choice but to prohibit the event".
The ban follows what French media describe as a tense day of negotiation on Tuesday over the march. There were reportedly divisions in the government, with Prime Minister Manuel Valls pressing for a ban while Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve President Francois Hollande sought a compromise.
Two union leaders, Jean-Claude Mailly of Force Ouvriere and Philippe Martinez of the CGT, had an urgent meeting Mr Cazeneuve after the police decision on Wednesday and were due to consider their next step with union colleagues.
Mr Mailly said after the meeting that he was neither optimistic nor pessimistic. He has already threatened to defy the ban, risking a large fine and months in jail, Le Figaro website reports.
That threat has been echoed by left-wing firebrand Olivier Besancenot.
Many on Twitter complained that it was illegal to place an outright ban on demonstrations while some pointed out that the ban was "the best way to bring the masses on to the streets".
Others, meanwhile, accused President Hollande of hypocrisy, citing a 2012 tweet in which he stated: "The only right we have is the right to protest as long as necessary."
The government's labour reform makes it easier for employers to hire and fire workers.
It would also relax the limit on working hours.
However, the bill was watered down before ministers decided to force it through the lower house of parliament to avoid it being voted down.
