French President Nicolas Sarkozy ordered the police to stop the blockades on fuel stations on Wednesday, but only 14 have been lifted, and around 6,500 fuel stations are experiencing shortages of fuel. French refinery workers have been on strike for 10 days, limiting the amount of fuel being processed. Sarkozy also said that protesters who were clashing with the police would be purchased for their actions, calling them unacceptable. 312 high schools were disrupted by student protests, and tomorrow marks the start of a school holiday. The pension reforms are not due to be voted on until next week,. and the protest seem unlikely to subside by then, despite the efforts of the government.
See "French Leader Vows to Punish Violent Protesters", Steven Erlanger and Alan Cowell, The New York Times, October 20, 2010