70,000 gather in Paris on May Day to oppose labor reform

Around 70,000 people took to the streets here to call for the withdrawal of a labor reform during the May Day rally, figures released by major French union CGT showed on Sunday.

Across French cities "tens of thousands" of demonstrators voiced their anger over a government draft bill to reform labor code two days ahead of its examination at the National Assembly, CGT said.

Police put the number between 16,000 and 17,000.

Clashes occurred after scores of masked protesters threw projectiles at policemen, crying "everyone hates the police." Police fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

In 2015 celebration of the workers' rights, up to 12,000 people participated in the Paris march and 76,000 across the country, police data showed while unions numbered 110,000 people in French cities.

Source: XINHUA