Protests against far-right candidate continue

Tens of thousands have marched through Paris to protest against far-right presidential candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Similar demonstrations took place throughout France, in cities from Lille in the north to the Mediterranean port of Marseille, where 15,000 people gathered.

Protesters have taken to the streets every day for a week, since voters learned the leader of the anti-immigration National Front party would face incumbent President Jacques Chirac in the May 5 run-off.

In Paris, demonstrators chanted "Down with the National Front" and beat on drums as they headed toward the site of the former Bastille prison.

One protester held up a sign that read, simply, "I'm ashamed."

About 60 organisations called the demonstrations, including the Communist Party, the League for Human Rights, the CGT union and associations of high school students.