200,000 march against employment laws

More than 200,000 protesters poured onto France’s streets and striking workers crippled transport services today in a mass effort to pressure embattled Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin to withdraw a contested new jobs contract for youths.

Cracks opened in his conservative government as public pressure mounted, with Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy suggesting that the contract be suspended to allow talks with unions, in a clear break with Villepin.