Pension protests add to strikes as airports run low on fuel

Hundreds of thousands of people marched in cities across France yesterday in the latest protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reforms.

The demonstrations concided with a fifth day of strikes by rail and oil workers which have disrupted rail travel and caused shortages at some petrol stations. Paris Charles de Gaulle airport could run out of fuel by Wednesday if the strikes continue, warned the Civil Aviation Authority. The protest movement has been triggered by plans to raise the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62.