Anti-Le Pen rallies staged across France

Police concerned about rallies Wednesday

PARIS, France (CNN) -- French police are bracing for another week of massive political rallies against far-right presidential candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen, expecting emotions to run high leading up to the May 5 elections.

About 200,000 people took to the streets Saturday across France to voice their staunch opposition to Le Pen, organizers said.

The National Front party leader upset Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin to place second in the opening round of last week's presidential election, setting up a runoff with President Jacques Chirac.

The vote quickly spurred demonstrations against Le Pen, who is viewed as anti-immigrant and anti-Semitic by his critics.

Even given the massive crowds protesting his candidacy this weekend, police said they expected even larger, and perhaps less peaceful demonstrations on Wednesday.

EXTRA INFORMATION In-depth: France Decides 2002

May 1 is International Workers Day, also known as May Day -- during which Le Pen's supporters traditionally hold large rallies. Wednesday is also when French schools return to session, fueling fears that students as young as 16 could join afternoon demonstrations.

This weekend's rallies, which followed a week of protests involving up to 350,000 people, came as a poll suggested Chirac would trounce Le Pen 81 percent to 19 percent in the second round of the presidential vote.

There were also several relatively small anti-Le Pen rallies Sunday, and few if any marches in support of the controversial candidate this weekend.

The far-right candidate stirred fresh anger among the political mainstream Friday when he said France ought to create "transit camps" for illegal aliens. Le Pen also suggested the country organize a "special train" to deliver immigrants to Britain from the much-criticized French holding center near the Channel at Sangatte.

One day later, a throng of students, trade unionists and civil rights activists in Paris wielded banners Saturday reading "Nowhere for Nazis" and "We're Stronger than Hatred."

"The Republic is in danger -- vote on May 5!" one group of Socialist students chanted. "Le Pen, you're done for; the youth is in the street," another group shouted.