More than one million demonstrators poured onto France’s streets, and strikers shut down the Eiffel Tower and disrupted transport services in the largest nationwide protests so far against a new law that will make it easier to fire young people.

French President Jacques Chirac today urged immediate negotiations between the government and students and unions to defuse escalating anger over a new labour law that sparked nationwide marches and clashes with police.

Police detained 300 people around France after nationwide student marches against a new labour law turned violent.

After winning a landslide victory in France, conservative President Jacques Chirac now faces the challenge of winning over the electorate that banded together to support him over his far-right opponent.