Unions to meet French Prime Minister over youth jobs law

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Dominique de Villepin agreed to meet tomorrow over a contested jobs law, despite unions’ demands that the law be withdrawn before they will negotiate – while protesters clashed with police in Paris and other cities.

In Paris rioters overturned cars and set them on fire.

Villepin, facing escalating protests over the law, had invited the unions earlier in the day to no-holds-barred talks on the law.

Five leading unions met today to discuss the invitation and said they would meet him, but would refuse to negotiate unless the law is withdrawn first.

Villepin agreed to their terms and set a meeting for tomorrow.

A stand-off heated up on Paris’ verdant Esplanade des Invalides, with riot police using tear gas on rowdy protesters who hurled grapefruit-sized chunks of concrete at police officers.

Some of the 23,000 marchers turned on each other, beating and kicking.

A phalanx of hundreds of riot police, three men deep, pressing forward to drive back the protesters, blocked off the ornate Alexandre III bridge.

Dozens of people appeared injured, and police said 42 people had been arrested.

There were also clashes in Grenoble and Marseille.