Protests against the new jobs law in France turned violent on Tuesday with demonstrators throwing rocks at police, tearing up park benches and destroying street signs. The police fired tear gas at the crowd in an attempt to disburse them and restore order.
The demonstrators marched to protest the new law that makes it easy for employers to fire any employee for any reason within the first two years of their employment. Police sources say 1 million people marched while the protest organizers say the number of demonstrators was 3 million.
The protest in Paris was the largest and it was this demonstration that broke out into violence. Youths pelted police with stones and used metal bars to destroy the pavement on the streets. Some later hurled the chunks of pavement at police decked out in riot gear.
Despite the strong opposition to the new law, French President Jacques Chirac signed it on Sunday, saying France needed it to keep pace in a global economy. Chirac offered some modifications to mollify protesters but the students rejected them as inadequate.
Police made numerous sweeps in and around the protest area and arrested hundreds of people after the violence broke out.
The issue of the new employment law is far from over.
