7 September 2010Last updated at 17:49

In pictures: France protests

A demonstrator with a France flag in Lille, northern France

On a day of action by French unions and workers, hundreds of thousands have protested, and a general strike has severely disrupted services.

Fake skull on top of a placard reading "retired at last" at a protest in Paris

Union bosses and many workers are angry at the government's plan to overhaul pensions and raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.

A woman watches a demonstration in Paris

According to officials, some 1.1 million marched in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other major cities. Unions believe the turnout was about 2.5 million in total.

An Arcelor Mittal steel worker in Marseille

Striking workers from public and private sectors were out in force at the rallies - many are angry at plans to cut jobs to reduce France's budget deficit.

The strike hit the public transport network particularly hard, with train operator SNCF managing to put on fewer than half of its TGV inter-cities.

Workers carry a mask of Nicolas Sarkozy during a demonstration in Lille

Although the protests were against government reforms, it was President Nicolas Sarkozy who played the role of hate figure for many of the demonstrators.

Unions were hoping to provoke the government into a showdown on pensions, but ministers promised to be resolute over the reforms.

Europe

In pictures: France protests

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