Tensions were high at a controversial dam project near Sivens in southern France on Tuesday as farmers in favour of the project blocked activists from entering the site ahead of a crucial meeting on Friday, reports RFI.
Since Monday morning, about 130 farmers have been blocking access to the site, which has been occupied for nine months by political activists wanting to bring it to a halt.
Farmers want the project to go ahead and say authorities are not doing enough to resolve the situation or to stop the activists from entering the site.
"They are not prisoners," said Philippe Jougla, president of the area's FDSEA farmers' union, in reference to the activists known to the public and among themselves as "zadistes", a complicated French play on words referring to their occupation of the site.
"If the zadistes want to leave, they can leave. But we are not allowing anyone to enter the site."
Opponents say they're determined to remain on the site, and police reinforcements arrived to prevent clashes between the two groups.