Dozens of protesters arrested at Paris rally against gay marriage

Dozens of protesters were arrested at a rally against same-sex marriage today, as left-wing lawmakers brought forward the deadline for the adoption of a law that will allow gays and lesbians to tie the knot.

About 70 people were detained after they tried to set up a camp outside the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, near the banks of the Seine. The government sped up the approval process with a decision to call a final vote on gay marriage legislation on next Tuesday, weeks earlier than initially planned, according to a source.

The Senate, the upper house of parliament, which like the National Assembly is under left-wing control, backed the Bill last week.

REUTERS