Riot Police Clear Fuel Blockades In France

French President Francois Hollande has pledged to press on with unpopular labour reforms, after riot police cleared all but one of the country's fuel depot blockades.

Nationwide strikes had ground the country to a halt and a fresh wave of industrial action is planned over the weekend, but a spokesman for the transport ministry said the situation is now "improving everywhere, all over the country".

French oil and gas company Total said all nine of its depots were operating as normal after the last blockade was lifted.

Speaking at the G7 summit in Japan, Mr Hollande said: "I will keep going because I think these are good reforms," and insisted the government would do all it could to ensure normal life could resume for most people.

He told reporters: "Our primary duty ... is to do everything to maintain the supply of fuel to the public and to continue to provide essential public services."

Unions have said "the ball is in the government's court" and insisted the strikes could end as soon as Monday if the government backs down on the reforms.

Mr Hollande has refused to back down despite weeks of protests, and unions are urging workers to "multiply and support" the strikes until their demands are met.

They said the "stubbornness" of the government in refusing to withdraw the contested law was only "boosting the determination" of its opponents.

A fresh wave of protests is now planned, even as French Prime Minister Manuel Valls agreed to meet oil industry representatives on Saturday.

:: Why France Is Running Out Of Petrol And Diesel

The government and some organisations - including the International Monetary Fund - have said the labour legislation is a necessary to create jobs.

The laws being forced through parliament would make it easier for companies to hire and fire workers, with unions saying the reforms would erode workers' rights while unlikely to tackle unemployment.

Unions have also called for a day of industrial action on 10 June, the first day of the Euro 2016 football tournament, if Mr Hollande does not return from Japan to return to the negotiating table.

Protests turned ugly in the French capital on Thursday, with masked demonstrators throwing missiles at police, who fired tear gas in return.

Nine people were detained after the march, which saw several thousand people gather to demand the proposals be scrapped.

As many as 12,000 petrol stations across the country were reported to be either closed or running low on fuel on the day of the clashes, with 40% of those in Paris said to be struggling.

British holidaymakers driving to France this weekend have been warned to fill up their tanks before they leave the UK.

The French government has resorted to dipping into precious reserves, and nuclear power capacity has been cut because workers have walked out.

Queuing at petrol stations has been so bad that the AA in the UK reported calls from Britons stranded on their holidays.

Mr Valls has suggested it might be possible that "changes" or "improvements" could be made to the legislation, but insisted it will not be withdrawn.

The increasing pressure on the government comes a year before an election in which Mr Hollande is considering standing again, despite his poll ratings ranking among the lowest for a French leader in modern history.