Students burn flares and shout slogans during a demonstration in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, April 28, 2016, during a nationwide day of protest. Student organizations and employee unions have joined to call for protests across France to reject a government reform relaxing the 35-hour working week and other labour rules.(AP Photo/Claude Paris)
The Associated Press
PARIS (AP) - Protesters clashed with police in several French cities Thursday over proposed reforms to the country's labor rules and strikers forced cancellations and delays at two major airports serving Paris.
Thousands of demonstrators marched in Paris, and violence broke out when several dozen people, many with their faces covered, started throwing objects at police. Police used tear gas to disperse protesters and said one police officer was seriously wounded.
French television also showed clashes in the southern city of Marseille and in the western cities of Nantes and Rennes.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said 124 people had been arrested in protests around the country. He strongly condemned the violence and said perpetrators will be prosecuted.
An air traffic controllers strike canceled 20 percent of all the flights at Paris' Orly Airport and also caused delays at Charles De Gaulle Airport, according the Paris airport authority website.
France has seen a series of strikes and protests against the labor reform bill, which aims to encourage companies to hire. Critics say the reforms will compromise France's hard-won worker protections without curbing the country's stubbornly high unemployment rate.
The bill will be debated next week in France's lower house of parliament.
Employees, workers and students demonstrate in the Old-Port, in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, April 28, 2016, during a nationwide day of protest. Student organizations and employee unions have joined to call for protests across France to reject a government reform relaxing the 35-hour working week and other labour rules. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)
The Associated Press
Students shout slogans during a demonstration in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, April 28, 2016, during a nationwide day of protest. Student organizations and employee unions have joined to call for protests across France to reject a government reform relaxing the 35-hour working week and other labour rules. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)
The Associated Press
Employes, workers and students demonstrate in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, April 28, 2016, during a nationwide day of protest. Student organizations and employee unions have joined to call for protests across France to reject a government reform relaxing the 35-hour working week and other labour rules. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)
The Associated Press
Masked protestors throw debris at riot police amid tear gas smoke during a protest against the proposed changes to France's working week and layoff practices in Paris, France, Thursday, April 28, 2016. French protesters are back on the streets over proposed reforms to the country's labor rules and strikers have forced cancellations and delays at two airports serving Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
The Associated Press
Demonstrators hold placards reading "No" during a protest against the proposed changes to France's working week and layoff practices, in Paris, Thursday, April 28, 2016. Protesters across France are again marching to voice their anger at labor reforms being championed by the country's Socialist government. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
The Associated Press
A man holds a flair during a protest against the proposed changes to France's working week and layoff practices, in Paris, Thursday, April 28, 2016. Protesters across France are again marching to voice their anger at labor reforms being championed by the country's Socialist government. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
The Associated Press
A protestor kicks a tear gas canister during a protest against the proposed changes to France's working week and layoff practices, in Lyon, central France, Thursday, April 28, 2016. French protesters are back on the streets over proposed reforms to the country's labor rules and strikers have forced cancellations and delays at two airports serving Paris. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
The Associated Press