Villepin admits errors over disputed youth labour law

FRENCH Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has conceded he made errors in his management of a hotly contested youth labour law that sent one million protesting students and union members into the streets.

He denied, however, that he has been disavowed by President Jacques Chirac, who, in the hope of restoring calm, ordered up a new, softer version of the law meant to make it easier to fire young workers.

Instead, Mr Chirac’s move appears to have fed his opponents’ ardor.