国际英语新闻：French unions say to continue pension strike

PARIS, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The French trade unions announced they would continue a national strike against older retirement age on Thursday, the scheduled date of final vote on the pension reform bill by the French Senate.

Two days ago, the sixth round of national strike protesting the government's decision to raise minimum retirement age from 60 to 62 mobilized over a million citizens across the country.

Till Thursday, the aftermath of the previous strikes was still crippling the country, with young protesters' confrontations with the riot police, a shortage in fuel supply and reduced public transport.

Meanwhile, President Nicolas Sarkozy, in a speech delivered outside Paris, vowed to break the protesters' blockage of fuel depots in some southern cities.

He said he would hold on to the reform, and promised to restore order in France with necessary measures.

The upper house of the French parliament is expected to vote on the bill on Thursday night, but there were speculations that the vote would be postponed to next week under the pressure of massive protests.

However, union leaders have told local media they would not stop fighting even if the law is passed next week.