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.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
Country profiles
Violence greets Clinton visit
Russian forces pound Grozny
EU fraud: a billion dollar bill
Next steps for peace
Cardinal may face loan-shark charges
Vodafone takeover battle heats up
(From Business)
Trans-Turkish pipeline deal signed
French party seeks new leader
Jube tube debut
Athens riots for Clinton visit
UN envoy discusses Chechnya in Moscow
Solana new Western European Union chief
Moldova's PM-designate withdraws
Chechen government welcomes summit
In pictures: Clinton's violent welcome
Georgia protests over Russian 'attack'
UN chief: No Chechen 'catastrophe'
New arms control treaty for Europe
Mannesmann fights back
(From Business)
EU fraud -- a billion-dollar bill
New moves in Spain's terror scandal
EU allows labelling of British beef
UN seeks more security in Chechnya
Athens riots for Clinton visit
Russia's media war over Chechnya
Homeless suffer as quake toll rises
Analysis: East-West relations must shift