France hit by strikes and protests in second round of pensions battle

French labour leaders hope to bring more than one million protesters into the streets in the latest clash of wills with the government over plans to push back the retirement age (Robert Edme/AP)

Demonstrations were under way across France on Tuesday in the latest clash of wills with the government over its plans to raise the retirement age.

Labour leaders hoped to bring more than one million protesters into the streets in what one veteran left-wing leader described as a “citizens’ insurrection”.