THE TENSION: Paris Riots 2006: Summary, Sat. 18 Mar.

INTERNATIONAL

Students and unions parade with banners at demonstration to protest the government's youth job law (CPE) in Marseille March 18, 2006. Huge crowds of students, trade unionists and left-wingers took to the streets across France on Saturday to put pressure on the conservative government to cancel a new law they fear will undermine job security for young workers. REUTERS/Philippe Laurenson

French students demonstrate against the First Job Contract (CPE) in the centre of Lyon March 18, 2006. Protesters and police geared up for mass demonstrations across France on Saturday as pressure mounted on the conservative government to cancel a new law that students and unions fear will undermine job security. REUTERS/Robert Pratta

Riot policemen stand guard in front of a burning newsstand during clashes with protesters following a student protest against the First Job Contract, known as CPE, Thursday, March 16, 2006 in Paris. Tens of thousands of French students marched, chanted and whistled in renewed nationwide protests Thursday against a new labor law, as the government tried to maintain a united front for this pivotal test of the country's direction. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

French police in riot gear stand in formation in the Latin Quarter in Paris near Sorbonne University after nationwide demonstrations by students and unions to protest the youth job contract law March 18, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of students, workers and left-wing politicians took to the streets across France on Saturday to press the conservative government to scrap a new law they fear will erode job security. REUTERS/Victor Tonelli

Protesters throw a metal fence on a riot police officer during clashes in the street , following a student protest against the First Job Contract, known as CPE, in Lille in northern France March 18, 2006. Huge crowds of students, trade unionists and left-wingers took to the streets across France on Saturday to put pressure on the conservative government to cancel a new law they fear will undermine job security for young workers. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol

Protesters throw wooden barriers during clashes with French riot police following a demonstration in Paris, France, against the 'First Job Contract', or CPE, Saturday, March 18, 2006. More than 500,000 students and workers marched in Paris and other French cities Saturday in the biggest show of anger yet at a jobs plan that has led to street violence and threatens to weaken the government. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Protesters gathering together in front of riot shields on a square facing the Sorbonne University, following a students' protest against the First Job Contract in Paris, France Saturday, March 18, 2006. Tens of thousands of students and workers marched in Paris and other French cities Saturday in what appeared to be the biggest show of anger yet at a jobs plan that has led to violence in the streets and threatens to weaken the government. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

COMMENTLINE
Presented for your inspection is a summary of news images and stories detailing events of the recent Paris student protests. In this edition:

Students and police clash as protesters destroy businesses and property in demonstrations against the government's plan to loosen job protections for young workers

NEWSLINE
Hundreds of young demonstrators defied police following a peaceful march though Paris which attracted up to 350,000 people, hurling objects at officers who eventually drove them back, charging the crowd and using tear gas grenades.

NEWSBYTES
French Students' Protests Turn Fiery
PARIS (AP) -- Students clashed with police and activists rampaged through a McDonald's restaurant and torched the entrance to a Gap store in the capital Saturday as demonstrations against a government plan to loosen job protections spread in a widening arc across France.

Job protests grip French cities
(BBC) -- Hundreds of thousands of people have marched through French towns and cities in protest at a new law making it easier to hire and fire young workers.

French protesters give ultimatum to scrap job law
PARIS (Reuters) -- Half a million protesters took to the streets across France on Saturday to demand the scrapping of a new law they fear will erode job security, and trade union and student leaders gave the government 48 hours to comply.

Mass protests over job law turn ugly
PARIS (AFP) -- Riot police teargassed scores of demonstrators in Paris after an estimated million people took to the streets of France to protest a widely unpopular new labor law.

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