The French President, Jacques Chirac, has spoken out in support of French farmers who smashed up a McDonalds hamburger restaurant being built in southwest France.

The farmers wrecked the McDonalds site in protest at the American government putting punitive taxes on French food such as foie gras, Roquefort cheese and Dijon mustard, as part of a trade row.

One of the protesters Jose Bove went to prison -- he's now being hailed as a hero.

President Chirac said that while the form of the protest may have been unacceptable, it arose from just concerns.

He said it was in nobody's interest to allow one single power to rule undivided over the planet's food markets.