Former President Jacques Chirac was preliminarily charged with giving fake jobs to people while he was mayor of Paris, his lawyer said.

France's state-owned rail operator SNCF says there is a "concerted campaign of sabotage" on the tracks of the high-speed TGV network aimed at stopping services resuming amid a national strike.

Pressure from the street against French President Nicolas Sarkozy's program of reforms is intensifying, as hundreds of thousands of state employees go on strike, joining a week-long stoppage by rail workers.

After a week of transport strike that caused chaos on French railways civil servants began a mass walkout throughout France. Authorities state that it will not effect planned reforms.

Thousands of Parisians frustrated by continuous traffic jams and horrible commuting problems marched through the French capital Sunday, demanding an end to a nationwide rail workers' strike now entering its sixth day Monday.

French transport workers decided to continue strikes to keep up pressure against Nicolas Sarkozy's reform programme.

Transport workers paralyzed most rail traffic in France for a second full day Thursday, making passengers postpone trips, work or bike to work.

Public transportation ground to a virtual halt across much of France as workers went on strike for the second time in a month to protest proposed government reforms.

French people had to walk and bike to their work as striking transport workers cut train service protesting President Nicolas Sarkozy's bid to curtail labor protections.

French commuters face travel chaos late on Tuesday when unions launch a rolling national strike over proposed changes to their pensions, in a fresh test of President Nicolas Sarkozy's ability to carry out his reforms.

France is bracing for its second major transportation strike in a month, beginning Tuesday evening. From Paris, Lisa Bryant reports - although most French do not support the strike - it reflects wider discontent against reforms proposed by the country's conservative government.

Well, it's about time we got stuck into wine with a vengeance -we're talking about France here!