France: Rampaging French youths set fire to cars and looted shops in Paris yesterday, marring protests against a youth jobs law that the prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, in a conciliatory move, agreed to discuss with unions.
Aides said Mr de Villepin would meet senior trade union officials today to try to defuse a crisis that has triggered a national strike threat and drawn hundreds of thousands of protesters on to French streets.
In Paris riot police fired tear gas in clashes with youths in the Invalides areas near the foreign ministry, witnesses said.
Youths threw stones at police and set fire to the door of an apartment building in running battles at the end of a largely peaceful rally by thousands of students and workers against the CPE First Job Contract.
"This time, there are lots of young criminals on the march who are there to steal and smash. This discredits the movement," said Charlie Herblin (22) on the march.
Dozens of young people, many wearing masks or hoods, overturned cars, smashed shop windows and robbed student demonstrators of clothes and mobile phones, witnesses said. Police said they arrested 42 people.
Clashes also erupted in the city of Rennes, where about 300 to 400 youths battled with police. Tens of thousands of students marched in cities throughout France including Tours, Orleans and Marseille, as part of rolling protests designed to maintain pressure on Mr de Villepin. Unions have called a one-day national strike for Tuesday to demand the withdrawal of the CPE, which allows employers to fire people aged under 26 at any stage during a two-year trial period, without stating a reason.
In response to a written invitation for a meeting by Mr de Villepin, leaders of the five main labour confederations said they would meet the prime minister today, but reiterated their demand for the CPE to be withdrawn. President Jacques Chirac has increased pressure on his prime minister to renew contact with unions, said Le Parisien.
Responding to prodding from Mr Chirac, Mr de Villepin said in his letter he wanted a meeting as quickly as possible and would not restrict the agenda. Until now he had said he would only discuss how best to enforce the new law. - (Reuters)