France can cope with oil refinery blockades says prime minister

Hundreds of French petrol stations have closed after union protests blocked oil refineries, reports the BBC.

About one in 20 petrol stations ran out of fuel entirely and hundreds more faced some shortages, the government said.

Workers blockaded French oil refineries and depots on Sunday in protest over controversial labour reforms.

Prime minister Manuel Valls said France had sufficient reserves to cope with the blockades.

"We have the situation fully under control. I think that some of the refineries and depots that were blocked are unblocked or will be in the coming hours and days," he said.

Read more of this report from the BBC.