French Lawmakers Advance Bill Raising Retirement Age.

PARIS -- Lawmakers in France's lower house on Wednesday passed President Nicolas Sarkozy's pension overhaul, which includes an increase of the minimum retirement age to 62 from 60, after several days of political cross-fire that ended with a raucous overnight debate. As protesters converged across the River Seine from the National Assembly building, the lawmakers voted 329-233 to approve the bill, clearing a first important legislative hurdle. The upper chamber, the Senate, will begin its debate on Oct. 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]