A million rally against Le Pen

PARIS, France -- More than a million people have taken to the streets of France in a massive show of opposition to far-right presidential contender Jean-Marie Le Pen, Interior Ministry figures show.

About 400,000 people of all ages and races gathered in Paris on Wednesday to protest at Le Pen's anti-European Union and anti-immigration manifesto.

A further 900,000 people took to the streets in a dozen cities, including Grenoble, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, Toulouse and Strasbourg in a prelude to Sunday's run-off election, where Le Pen faces incumbent president Jacques Chirac.

It was the biggest show of opposition to Le Pen since he won 17 percent of the vote in the first-round on April 21.

Le Pen's National Front party, in a separate rally, held its annual homage to its patron saint, Joan of Arc, during which he promised an "electoral earthquake." (On the Scene)

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"The ground's going to crumble under their feet," he said.

The Interior Ministry and police said 10,000 Le Pen supporters turned up to hear him speak although the right-winger put the figure at 100,000.

About 3,500 police had been deployed in anticipation of the anti-Le Pen demonstration. (May Day across Europe)

Le Pen's supporters crowded between the arcades of the Rue de Rivoli, a main artery through the city, waving flags and signs that read "Le Pen, president" and "I'm proud to be French."

Le Pen lay a bouquet of white flowers at a gilded statue of Joan of Arc riding a horse and waving the national flag. For Le Pen's National Front party, the 15th century saint is a symbol of French resistance against foreign "invaders."

Le Pen has used the fear of crime successfully in his election campaign, while Chirac has called for calm, saying street battles would play into the hands of his rival.

May Day saw 4,000 police on duty on the streets of Paris

Chirac told French radio on Tuesday: "Nothing would be worse in the present situation for the ideas the demonstrators are defending than wild behaviour that would lead to violence and clashes."

In a radio interview, Le Pen said he had taken "all possible precautions" to ensure safety and said had asked his security officers to eject any neo-Nazis who might try to join the march.

Anti-Le Pen protesters held banners saying "Joan of Arc spoke to me and told me to vote Chirac," in a dig at Le Pen's adoption of the medieval national heroine.