French Workers Continue To Riot With Police Presence


Workers blockading oil refineries in France have told Sky News they will continue to stop fuel leaving – even if President Nicolas Sarkozy sends in the riot police.

All 12 of the country’s refineries have been closed by striking workers protesting over pension reforms.

France is beginning to suffer with more than 3,000 service stations out of nearly 12,500 now out of fuel, the government said.

At the main oil refinery just outside Paris, protesters are becoming more militant as the strike continues. Local CGT Union representative Franc Menchant says everyone wants to continue the fight.

“We’ve been on strike since the 12th and the refinery stopped operating last Friday.

The picket is continually manned. It feels like we will die here,” he told Sky. Mr Sarkozy is not impressed by the industrial action and has vowed to crackdown on illegal blockades. On his orders, police have cleared access to 21 oil depots since last Friday.

The government claims supplies will start flowing again soon and is urging motorists not to panic buy. But that message seems to have fallen on deaf ears. At petrol stations across France there are long queues as frustrated drivers try to get their hands on increasingly precious supplies.

Follow us on Google News

Mark