Nationwide strike hits France

Hundreds of thousands of French workers are expected to join the country's second nationwide strike in two months. Unions are protesting against President Nicolas Sarkozy's economic policies. Unemployment has reached two million and is expected to rise further. The unions are urging the government to do more to protect jobs and wages, vzglyad.ru reports.

Organisers hope the protest will be bigger than one in January, when more than a million people took part, BBC says. Demonstrations are planned in about 200 towns and cities. Schools are to close and public transport faces disruption.

President Sarkozy said that he understands the concerns of the French people but ruled out plans for further measures.

Unemployment is likely to shoot up to 10% in the next 12 months with a further 350,000 lay-offs expected by the end of this year.