Riot police fire tear gas at protesters (Marseille)

[struggle4progress]

9/27/2005, 11:34 a.m. ET
The Associated Press

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Police fired tear gas Tuesday to disperse protesters blocking a Mediterranean port, and strikers commandeered a ship after the government announced privatization plans for a state-run ferry operator.

The striking unionists were steering the "Pascal-Paoli" to Corsica from Marseille, where clashes broke out late Monday over the planned sale of ailing ferry operator SNCM to private investment firm Butler Capital Partners.

Company boss Walter Butler indicated that 350-400 jobs might be lost in the takeover of SNCM. Most or all would be voluntary, he said.

Riot police stepped in late Monday in Marseille and again early on Tuesday morning after protesters sought to block a cargo ship from leaving.

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/business/index.ssf?/base/business-48/1127835540104470.xml&storylist=mibusiness