French Airport Site

Voters in western France gave the go-ahead Sunday to a controversial airport development that has been at the centre of a years-long battle between environmental activists and the government.

Thousands of demonstrators blocked roads on the outskirts of the French city of Nantes on Saturday to protest a controversial airport development that has been at the centre of a years-long battle.

Around 20,000 demonstrators blocked roads around the western French city of Nantes on Saturday in protest over a controversial airport development, organisers said, although police put the number at 7,200.

French policemen on Friday fired tear gas at protesting squatters during a drive to evict them from the site of a proposed new airport to be built on protected swampland.

Voters in western France gave the go-ahead Sunday to a controversial airport development that has been at the centre of a years-long battle between environmental activists and the government.

Thousands of demonstrators blocked roads on the outskirts of the French city of Nantes on Saturday to protest a controversial airport development that has been at the centre of a years-long battle.

Around 20,000 demonstrators blocked roads around the western French city of Nantes on Saturday in protest over a controversial airport development, organisers said, although police put the number at 7,200.

French policemen on Friday fired tear gas at protesting squatters during a drive to evict them from the site of a proposed new airport to be built on protected swampland.