French Protests Target Macron Labour Reforms

In the first big test of Emmanuel Macron's presidency, protests have begun in cities across France against changes to the country's labour laws, reported BBC. 

Some 4,000 strikes have been called too, but two of the biggest unions have distanced themselves from the action.

Marches were due in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Nantes and the other main cities.

However, President Macron missed the disruption, as he travelled to the Caribbean, to see the destruction wrought by Hurricane Irma.

He was due to visit St Martin and St Barts, which were among the islands worst hit by the hurricane last week.

The first marches took place in Marseille, Perpignan and Nice in the south, Bordeaux in the west and Le Havre and Caen in the north, each attracting a few thousand demonstrators. Scuffles were reported in Lyon as police tried to block the path of protesters.

Protest organisers were hoping for a big turnout in the centre of Paris, and called for workers at the Eiffel Tower to stage a strike. Services on regional trains were reduced but most intercity trains were running as normal.

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