French police break fuel depot blockade

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French police have forcibly lifted a blockade on the main refinery supplying fuel to Paris as polls show the majority of French people support the strikes despite petrol shortages on the eve of national holidays, reports CNN.
A poll for Canal+ found nearly seven out of every ten French citizens were behind the nationwide protests over plans to raise the retirement age to 62.
Riot police descended on the depot at Grandpuit last night, and at least one person was injured in scuffles which broke out as officers cleared striking workers from the area.
Protesters have been camped around the clock for days in front of the depot, blocking access and contributing to nationwide petrol shortages.
"There is not much left in the pumps," said local prefect Jean-Michel Drevet. "This will relieve some of that."
With his popularity ratings near an all-time low 18 months from a general election, Sarkozy has vowed to pass a reform he says is the only way to limit a ballooning pensions shortfall. Pressure is growing on the president to end the crisis before half-term holidays begin this weekend.
The upper house of parliament is expected to vote on the measure tonight, though the debate may still be postponed.
Last night Sarkozy, who had been keeping a low profile as protesters blockaded oil refineries and threw transport into chaos, said the demonstrators "had no right taking the French people hostage".
He denounced clashes between schoolchildren and police in Lyon yesterday as "scandalous" and said rioters would be punished. "It's not the thugs who will have the last word in a democracy, in a republic," the president said. "They will be arrested, found and punished."