France Unrest. posted by Richard Seymour

Protest organisers have given Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin until Monday night to withdraw the legislation, at which point union leaders will meet to decide what to do next.

"Of course it is an ultimatum. The government and the president have effectively 48 hours to decide," Rene Valadon from the Workers' Force (FO) union said.

Bernard Thibault, head of the powerful General Labour Confederation (CGT), said that "if nothing moves we will propose preparing a day of general work stoppages in the coming days. Conditions are such that it should be a success".