A Chinese woman remained in coma on Thursday after being attacked by a gang of youths on Tuesday evening in Paris's "China Town", French police said on Thursday.

She was assaulted at around 9:00 PM (19:00 GMT) shortly after the end of Tuesday's demonstration against the controversial new work legislation aimed at young people, the First Employment Contract (CPE), police said.

The incident occurred in a street not far from Italy Square, where protestors had dispersed and pockets of violence and rioting had erupted.

The woman, 58, hit her head on the pavement when she was knocked over by the youths, who were trying to steal her handbag. Hospital sources said on Thursday her condition was "worrying."

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2006)