Paris riot police have fought back crowds who pushed their way on
to the French capital's landmark Champs-Elysees avenue as part of a huge
protest against a draft law allowing same-sex couples to marry and
adopt children.
Hundreds of thousands of people, including conservative activists,
children, retirees and priests converged 
on the city on Sunday in a
last-ditch bid to stop the bill, many bused in from the French
provinces.
on the city on Sunday in a
last-ditch bid to stop the bill, many bused in from the French
provinces.
The lower house of France's parliament approved the "marriage for
everyone" bill last month with a large majority, and the measure faces a
vote in the Senate next month.
Both houses are dominated by French President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party and its allies.
Sustained protests led by opposition conservatives in the
traditionally Catholic country have eroded support for the draft law in
recent months, and organisers hope Sunday's march will weigh on the
Senate debate.
The first few hours of the protest were peaceful. But as it was meant
to be winding down, about 100 youths tried to push past police
barricades onto the Champs-Elysees, the avenue that cuts through central
Paris and draws throngs of tourists daily.
In an indication of the sensitivity of the issue, protesters had been barred from marching on the avenue.
Police officers wrangled with the youths and then fired teargas to
force them back. Gaining momentum, more and more protesters took side
streets to reach the avenue, blocking a key intersection on the route to
the president's Elysee Palace.
Source: Al Jazeera...More...
Post a Comment