France in chaos as protest movement turns violent

The demonstrations against plans to raise the national retirement age from 60 to 62 also turned violent with masked youths fighting with police and starting fires across France.

President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged to crack down on "troublemakers" raising the possibility of more confrontations with rioters after a week of demonstrations.

Mr Sarkozy also promised to ensure that fuel was available to everyone. Around 4,000 petrol stations were dry yesterday afternoon.

Prime Minister Francois Fillon said oil companies agreed to pool stocks to try to get supplies flowing.

"The government will continue to dislodge protesters blocking the fuel depots. ... No one has the right to take hostage an entire country, its economy and its jobs," he said.

The protesters are trying to prevent the French parliament from approving the new retirement age as the pension system goes bankrupt.

The measure is expected to be passed this week, although plans to move it through today have been delayed.

French workers enjoy many social benefits – which include long holidays, contracts that make it hard to lay off workers and a state-subsidised health care system – and fear "American-style" capitalism.