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All the main French trade unions have been holding a one-day general strike.

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Tens of thousands of people protested against a decline in spending power and government welfare and labour reform plans.

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The action severely affected transport systems across the country.

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Services on Paris' metro varied from line to line, with some running almost as normal while others ran few or no trains.

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Half of the city's TGV high-speed services were cancelled.

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The strike coincided with a visit by the International Olympic Committee, which is assessing Paris' bid for the 2012 games.

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But strike organisers said they backed Paris' bid, with some protesters demonstrating their support.