Strikes loom over France's despised job law

Jacques Chirac

PARIS - President Jacques Chirac was under pressure last night from the threat of a general strike over France's new employment law.

The unrest could force Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin to perform a humiliating climb-down.

Villepin has tried to ride out the storm whipped up by the legislation and ignore the huge demonstrations and fierce rioting it has provoked.

But speculation was growing yesterday that the President was pushing him towards major concessions to end the student-led revolt.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters, from school pupils to pensioners, took to the streets at the weekend for marches ending in riots.

Unions gave Villepin until last night to withdraw the law or face strikes.

- INDEPENDENT