France, Jan. 21 -- French farmers are leading a two-day protest in Strasbourg to try to convince MEPs to delay the implementation of the Mercosur free trade deal between the European Union and Latin American countries.

Nearly 1,000 tractors have been parked front of the European Parliament building, and some 5,000 farmers gathered - even from countries that ratified the deal.

"Even if some countries are in favour of Mercosur, inside countries there are MEPs who are strongly questioning it and it could come down to just a handful of votes, so we must keep up the pressure," said Herve Lapie, general secretary of the FNSEA, France's leading farming union.

French farmers say EU/Mercosur trade deal will put them out of business Pressure on ...