But police break up blockade at a key refinery
French police stepped in to end a strikers’ blockade at a main oil refinery, as the Senate looks set to approve president Nicolas Sarkozy’s controversial pension reform on Friday. Regaining control of the strategic refinery at Grandpuits was part of the government’s efforts to contain the economic damage caused by union workers taking over oil depots and key oil terminals to protest the reform, which raises the retirement age from 60 to 62. Fuel shortages, however, are expected to last several more days. Discussion of the new pension plan lasted 130 hours in the Senate, the second-longest debate in 30 years.