Farm Protests Rock France

French police arrested dozens of people as tensions escalated to new levels at protests by farmers in search of better conditions that have spread to other European countries.

Defying warnings by the authorities, some farmers converged on the Rungis wholesale market outside of Paris where almost 80 people were arrested when some individuals penetrated the complex.

The French government has generally struck a conciliatory tone during more than a week of protests. But it had also warned that actions at Rungis, which provides food and other essentials to much of the Paris region of 12 million people, and other key infrastructure such as Paris airports, would cross a red line.

France has been at the center of growing rural discontent across Europe, with protests also held in Germany, Poland, Romania, Belgium and Italy, putting pressure also on the EU for protections.

Amid mounting calls for higher incomes, less red tape and protection from foreign competition, "there are huge expectations" among farmers, said Arnaud Rousseau, head of France's largest agricultural union the FNSEA.

French police in the evening detained 79 people after protesters broke into a storage area in the Rungis market south of Paris causing damage, a police source said. They were taken out by security forces, added the source, who asked not to be named.

The action took place after dozens of farmers from the Lot-et-Garonne department of southwest France arrived at the market.

Farmers had over the last week set up roadblocks with tractors, hay bales and other agrarian equipment, blocking traffic in areas across the country and from the start of this week on approaches to Paris.