Tens of thousands of people have marched through Paris to protest the French government's plans to raise the retirement age, according to AP. Police said the protest organized by Force Ouvriere union drew 23,000 people, while organizers put the figure at more than 70,000. President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed Tuesday that the government was planning to raise the standard retirement age, now at 60, but he did not give details. Tuesday's demonstration came on the eve of the labor minister's planned announcement of the specific proposals. Sarkozy noted that the French on average live 15 years longer than they did in 1950. He said: «If we live longer, we have to work longer.»
