Hundreds of French university students protested in the streets of Paris on Thursday, the Reuters news agency reported, adding their voices to a growing chorus of antigovernment opposition expected to culminate in nationwide strikes by public-sector workers on November 20.

Many reforms spearheaded by the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, since his election last May, such as attempts to cut back on public-sector pension rights, have prompted fierce opposition. Student leaders objected to several provisions of a New University Law, but with universities in summer recess when the law was passed, in August, they failed to mount the kind of protests that many had anticipated.

With universities now back in session and public-sector demonstrations and strikes gathering steam, students across France have been mobilizing. The main student union, UNEF, said that, as of yesterday, operations at more than 30 universities had been compromised as students have occupied premises. The union has called on students to take part in the strikes scheduled for November 20.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Conference of University Presidents said the recent wave of student protests that has hampered so many campuses accomplished little beyond hurting universities and penalizing students. The group underscored its support for the controversial new higher-education law, which it said was necessary for the development of French universities. —Aisha Labi