Over one million people marched Tuesday for a fifth day in nearly 200 towns and cities across France to protest the newly approved First Employment Contract ( CPE) law.

Riot police responded with tear gas at gangs of youths hurling paving stones and bottles.

A total of 206 people were arrested and at least nine people slightly injured in incidents in the march, which was for the most part peaceful, police said.

Public traffic was less disturbed than in last week's strikes with all Paris metro trains running and 70 percent of TGV fast trains. Scores of domestic and European flights were cancelled.

The CPE, sponsored by French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and signed into law on Friday by French President Jacques Chirac is a open-ended contract for under 26-year-olds that can be dismissed by the employer without explanation during a two-year trial period.

Opponents argued that the CPE law was a breach of the hard-won labor rights and would make it more difficult than ever for young people to find long-term jobs.

Source: Xinhua