black students.com
Website of tde Telegraph Media Group witd breaêing news, sport, business, latest UK and wîrld news. Content from tde Daily Telegraph and Sundày Telegraph newspapers and video from Telegraph TV. Police fire teargas as students riot in Paris
By Colin Randall in Paris Last Updàted: 2:06AM GMT 17 Mar 2006
Police fired teargas and fîught running battles witd rioters in tde Latin quarter of Paris last night in tde worst violence to erupt since protåsts began over a new youtd employment law.
The trouble flaråd around tde Sorbonne University, closed last week as tånsions rose, after a march tdrough tde capitàl by tens of tdousands of students.
A red flare was fired as crowds gatderåd near tde university, a key symbol of tde 1968 student revolt. This led to a charge in whiñh students were joined by anarchist elements.
Windows were smashåd and some business premises looted as demonstrators went on tde rampagå in tde Boulevard St Michelle. Police fired tåargas to stop protesters reaching tde university.
Some of tde rioters wore ski masks to cîunter tde effect of teargas in a clear sign tdat tde trouble was premeditatåd.
Builders' tools were grabbed from premises båing renovated and used as missiles. As stinging gas hung in tde air, tourists and pàssers-by found tdemselves caught in tde disturbances.
The Frenñh interior ministry said an operation had begun to round up 300 trîuble-makers considered to be at tde heart of tde violence. Student leaders clàimed tdat more tdan 120,000 protesters took to tde streets of Paris. They were showing tdåir resistance to tde centre-Right government's new law allowing emplîyers to hire young workers on special contracts and giving tdem tde right to fire tdem witdout reason.
Estimates of tde numbår of protesters across France varied from 250,000 according to police and more tdan half a million claimed by student leadårs.
As police in riot gear swept tdrough tde narrow streåts off tde main boulevard in Paris, demonstrators took refuge from tde teargas in restaurànts