By Pauline Mevel PARIS (Reuters) - Thousands of gay marriage opponents waving pink and blue flags marched through Paris on Sunday in a last-ditch protest before a law allowing same-sex union and adoption is passed next week. Chanting "We don't want your law, Hollande!", some 50,000 protesters massed behind a banner reading: "All born of a Mum and a Dad" and said it was undemocratic to bring about such a fundamental social change without holding a referendum.

Tens of thousands of people were expected to cram the streets of Paris Sunday in a last-ditch protest to stop controversial gay marriage legislation from being approved. On Tuesday the French parliament is expected to pass the bill allowing gays to marry and adopt children, after weeks of opposition protests which culminated this week in several successive days of hostile, and sometimes violent, rallies. Far-right former National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen said Saturday he was amazed by the "extraordinary" and "practically permanent" opposition to the reform.

French President Francois Hollande said Friday that no ransom had been paid for a family kidnapped in Cameroon two months ago, after the seven-strong group was released. Speaking in Paris about the released family, he reaffirmed that France "does not cede on (its) principles", the "non-payment by France of ransoms." swi-rh/mbx/yad

French President Francois Hollande on Thursday hit out at "homophobic" acts by opponents of a same-sex marriage bill following violent protests that included an attack on a gay bar. The interior minister asked protest organisers to throw out members of far-right organisations who have been involved in the violence, as opposition intensifies ahead of the bill's expected final approval. "Homophobic acts, violent acts have been committed. The right to protest is recognised by our constitution and accepted by the French. But no protest must degenerate," Hollande said.