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Paris's streets ablaze over workers' rights Colin Randall / London Telegraph | March 24 2006 Rioters set cars on fire in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower yesterday after breaking off from the latest Paris demonstration against the youth job law to attack the police. Flames spread from blazing vehicles to a shop and the windows of a car showroom were smashed as masked youths went on the rampage after a march by tens of thousands reached the Invalides Esplanade. In contrast to the overwhelmingly peaceful conduct of the marchers, who were mostly schoolchildren, a minority began throwing stones and bottles at police and breaking car windows.Following the pattern of previous skirmishes over the past nine days, police responded with tear gas and baton charges. More than 400 protesters were arrested across the country, including 140 in central Paris. Police said that 18 officers were injured in the clashes. The interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, had warned that "hooligans" would be punished severely. His ministry put the number of protesters who took to the streets across France yesterday at 220,000. Student leaders claimed that the true figure was half a million, including 45,000 in Paris. But the turnout was substantially down on the estimates, official and unofficial, for last Saturday's demonstrations. Trouble was also reported in suburbs around Paris and in Marseilles, the scene of one of the biggest of yesterday's marches outside the capital. Trade union leaders, who joined students and school pupils in opposing a new law that would make it easier to hire and fire young workers, accepted an invitation to meet the beleaguered prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, today. They insisted, however, that they would not negiotiate unless Mr de Villepin withdrew the law, which is due to take effect next month. He has ruled out scrapping the measure and his offers of concessions have been rejected. Mr de Villepin's aides promised that the talks on the new law, which would affect job-seekers under 26, would "not be limited in any way". He is expected to explain his offer to reduce the most contentious clauses in some fields of employment, creating a two-year trial period during which employees can be dismissed without reason. The aim of the measure, known as the Contrat Première Embauche, or first job contract, is to tackle France's grave youth-unemployment problems. But Mr de Villepin is struggling to rally support for the law, among even the ruling centre-Right UMP party. The education minister, Gilles de Robien, will also have talks with protesters today. --------------------------------------------------- Please help our fight against the New World Order by giving a donation. As bandwidth costs increase, the only way we can stay online and expand is with your support. Please consider giving a monthly or one-off donation for whatever you can afford. You can pay securely by either credit card or Paypal. Click here to donate. |
