Paris, France (CNN) -- French riot police ended the blockade of an oil refinery near Paris early Friday morning as protests against government plans to raise the retirement age continued.
Members of the Gendarmerie Nationale instructed strikers to free the refinery at 3:15 a.m. (9:15 p.m. ET Thursday), a police spokesman said.
The spokesman said they encountered no resistance, and strikers continue to protest in front of the refinery. But protesters later scuffled with police in front of the refinery as tensions flared over a proposal to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.
The French government says the change is necessary to save money. But more than a million people have turned out nationwide to protest the proposal, which could be approved by senators Friday.
The country has faced fuel shortages because workers are on strike at all 12 of the nation's refineries, and protesters are blocking 14 of the country's 219 oil terminals.
Energy Minister Jean-Louis Borloo said Friday that the situation was getting better slowly.
CNN
