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French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin admitted his disappointment as unemployment rose 0.1 percent to 9 percent, or 2.6 million jobseekers, during August. The rise is a blow for Mr. de Villepin, who has made reducing jobless totals the top priority for his government. Youth unemployment, running at 21.6 percent for those under 25, was the focus of Mr. De Villepin's attempts to reform labor laws, which stalled this year. "It's not brilliant, it's disappointing" Mr. de Villepin said.