Police storm Sorbonne

PARIS - French riot police used tear gas to break up a three-day sit-in at Paris' Sorbonne university on Saturday.

Students had occupied the faculty, the centre of France's 1968 student riots, since Wednesday to protest against a youth jobs plan which critics say will let employers hire and fire youngsters more easily. The plan has sent conservative Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's popularity tumbling.

The protests were the worst disturbances since weeks of suburban riots ending in November focused attention on poverty and led to curfews.

Police stormed the Sorbonne just before 4am (1600 NZT), forcing out around 200 students and arresting 11 people, a police spokesman said.

Two people were being treated for minor injuries, including a photographer who was struck as demonstrators threw bottles, chairs and fire extinguishers at the police.

Protesters complained police had used excessive force. "Police showed violence which went beyond all the limits.

"People were playing music and they just got attacked in the most incredible way," a 20-year-old theatre student said.

- REUTERS