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FRANCE

Hollande stands by labour reform on day of strikes, protests

French President François Hollande said he would not back down on his government's proposed labour reform, on a new day of protest against it which saw strikes in the transport and oil sectors. Striking truck drivers blocked roads in several parts of France Tuesday and the port city of Havre was paralysed by pickets.

French President François Hollande speaks to Europe 1 on Tuesday
French President François Hollande speaks to Europe 1 on Tuesday Reuters/Miguel Medina/Pool
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Lorry drivers picketed oil refineries and transport depots, blocked roads and stopped non-strikers from driving in Le Havre, Rennes, Lorient, Caen, Calais, Lille, Dunkirk and Le Mans in northern France, and in Avignon, Bordeaux and Marseille in the south on Tuesday.

They claimed that their incomes would be drastically hit by the labor law's proposal that local agreements could take precedence over national ones.

Many drivers work 200 hours per month, the unions say, adding that the law could mean a reduction of overtime rates from 25-50 percent to 10 percent.

A strike was called on Paris regional transport for the day, although disruption appeared to be limited, and demonstrations were planned across the country.

Hollande stands firm

Despite splits in his Socialist Party and an opinion poll showing 54 percent for the protest, Hollande was sticking to his guns on Tuesday morning.

"I will not back down because too many governments have backed down," he told Europe 1 radio.

And he talked tough on violence during demonstrations that has seen property attacked, a student protester lose an eye and a police officer kicked and beaten with iron bars.

"Demonstrating is a right but smashing things up is a crime," the president said.

Orders to arrest troublemakers have been given, he added, claiming that foreigners could be involved and that, if they were, they would be thrown out of the country.

Activists appeal against ban on joining protests

Some of the left-wing activists, including a photojournalist, effectively banned from attending Tuesday's demonstrations under state of emergency legislation appealed against the move in the morning.

Nine out of 10 won their appeals, according to a lawyer handling the case.

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