France’s embattled prime minister faced a tough and potentially pivotal meeting today with unions demanding that he toss out a divisive new jobs law after protests turned bloody and left a Paris park littered with shattered glass and ashes.

FRENCH unions and Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin agreed to meet today over a contested jobs law as protesters clashed with police in Paris and other cities.

French unions and Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin agreed to meet tomorrow over a contested jobs law, despite unions’ demands that the law be withdrawn before they will negotiate – while protesters clashed with police in Paris and other cities.