More French jobs law protest strikes threatened

French unions and students yesterday ordered a fresh round of strikes and demonstrations to pressure President Jacques Chirac to reject a new type of job contract, adding momentum to their swelling nationwide movement against the measure.

More than one million demonstrators took to French streets on Tuesday, disrupting transport and even shutting down the Eiffel Tower. It was the largest nationwide protest yet against the job contract that would make it easier to fire young workers.