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Last Updated: Monday, 1 January 2007, 09:51 GMT
French marchers say 'non' to 2007
Demonstration against 2007 in Nantes
The demonstrators took French restiveness to extremes
Hundreds of protesters in France have rung in the New Year by holding a light-hearted march against it.

Parodying the French readiness to say "non", the demonstrators in the western city of Nantes waved banners reading: "No to 2007" and "Now is better!"

The marchers called on governments and the UN to stop time's "mad race" and declare a moratorium on the future.

The protest was held in the rain and organisers joked that even the weather was against the New Year.

The tension mounted as the minutes ticked away towards midnight - but the arrival of 2007 did nothing to dampen their enthusiasm.

The protesters began to chant: "No to 2008!"

They vowed to stage a similar protest on 31 December 2007 on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris.


SEE ALSO
In pictures: New Year celebrations
01 Jan 07 |  In Pictures



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