Numerous labor strikes against French President Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reform continue for a third day in France. Students have intensified blockades of high schools and universities.

The strikes have shut down 70 percent of France's oil refineries. This has resulted in motorists rushing out to fill up their cars, causing local gas shortages.

Officials said that if people would stop panic-buying, they will have plenty of food and other supplies to last at least for the next month.

Union leaders have vowed to continue with the strikes until the government scraps the proposed reform legislation. However, the government still plans to change the pension law which would raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.

Analysts await the outcome regarding the student protests of the pension measure. French students have a history of stopping major government reforms and their actions have in the past degenerated into violence.