French police fire at protestors

French police have fired tear gas at thousands of demonstrators who gathered in Paris for a second consecutive night to protest against Jean-Marie Le Pen’s showing in the first round of the presidential election.

Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, goes into the second round of the election against the incumbent, Jacques Chirac, after receiving more votes than the socialist candidate and current Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

Le Pen’s policies are anti-Europe and anti-immigration and many fear his success at the ballot box signals a worrying rise in fascism in France.