France's sixth day of strikes tipped to be 'historic'

France is gearing up for more rolling strike action Tuesday as the battle over pension reforms escalates. Unions predict that the nation’s sixth day of action will be "historic", with "growing mobilisation”, while describing the government as “a mess”.

Reuters

In Paris, the marches will start in the early afternoon at Place d'Italie, in the 13th district, and cross westwards through the city centre, finishing at Les Invalides.

The Interior Ministry said an estimated 480,000 had spilled onto the nation's streets by noon.

Olivier Besancenot, the spokesperson for the New Anticapitalist Party, told French television that the “power of the street” would crush the reforms of President Nicolas Sarkozy and his “increasingly brittle“ ruling UMP party.

“The socialist history of our country serves as a reminder that whatever the parliament or the senate decide, the power of the people can undo it,” Besancenot said.

He added that the government bore responsibility for “transforming a social crisis into a political crisis”.

Meanwhile former Socialist Party Prime Minister Laurent Fabius on Tuesday appealed for Sarkozy to reopen dialogue with unions.

"Everything that's happening – in businesses, on the streets, at petrol pumps – all the blockages can be put to an end by the decision of one person: the President,” Fabuis told France 2 television.

More than 2,500 petrol stations have run dry and France's main airport could soon be forced to close as oil refinery workers continue open-ended industrial action.

On Tuesday, Sarkozy, who is attending a France, Germany Russia summit in Normandy, urged "control", saying he would hold a meeting upon his return to Paris to address the fuel shortage.