1.
GV. DEMONSTRATORS WITH BANNERS AND PLACARDS MARCH ALONG STREET
0.11

2.
SV. DEMONSTRATORS WALK TOWARDS CAMERA
0.21

3.
GV. DEMONSTRATORS
0.25

4.
SV. POLICE PAN TO... DEMONSTRATORS
0.33

5.
MV. POLICEMEN TRYING TO STOP MAN DISTRIBUTING LEAFLETS
0.42

6.
SV. DEMONSTRATORS FIGHTING WITH POLICE
0.59

7.
GV. DEMONSTRATORS PUSH THROUGH POLICE BARRIERS
1.09

8.
SV. MORE FIGHTING BETWEEN POLICE AND DEMONSTRATORS
1.17

9.
SV. DEMONSTRATORS CONTINUE ON THEIR MARCH
1.22



Initials AK/V/CR/JG



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THOUSANDS OF WORKERS FROM BRITTANY AND WEST FRANCE CLASHED WITH POLICE IN PARIS TODAY (THURSDAY) AS THEY DEMONSTRATED FOR GOVERNMENT AID. THE WORKERS FEEL THAT THEIR REGION IS NEGLECTED BY THE PARIS GOVERNMENT.

THIS MORNING AN ESTIMATED 3,000 INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURAL WORKERS ARRIVED IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL CITY BY TRAIN AND COACH FOR "A MARCH ON PARIS" TO SPOTLIGHT THEIR REGION'S PLIGHT. THE CATHOLIC C.F.D.T. JOINED THE COMMUNIST-LED C.G.T. UNION AND THE F.E.N. TEACHERS FEDERATION IN PROMOTING THE DEMONSTRATION.

'AS THE BRETONS ATTEMPTED TO MARCH ON THE MAIN PARIS LABOUR EXCHANGE THEY MET A POLICE CORDON. REINFORCEMENT OF GENDARMES WERE RUSHED TO THE SCENE AS DEMONSTRATORS BEGAN FIGHTING WITH THE POLICEMEN. A POLICE SERGEANT WAS INJURED IN THE CLASH AND AFTER ANOTHER SKIRMISH WHEN POLICEMEN ATTEMPTED TO STOP A MAN DISTRIBUTING LEAFLETS, SEVERAL DEMONSTRATORS WERE BUNDLED INTO POLICE VANS AND WERE TAKEN AWAY.

BRITTANY AND THE WEST OF FRANCE LAG BEHIND THE REST OF FRANCE ECONOMICALLY. THE AGRICULTURAL LAND YIELDS INDIFFERENT HARVESTS AND LIFE IS HARD FOR MOST INHABITANTS OF THE REGION. WORKERS AND FARMERS PARTICULARLY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR NUMEROUS DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE PAST AGAINST THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC POLICIES.