Firebrand leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon gathered thousands of supporters in Marseille on Saturday, on a weekend of rallies before the first round of France's presidential vote.

Communist-backed Melenchon, who has shaken up the vote with a surge in the polls, will be hoping for a repeat of rallies in Paris and Toulouse that were the biggest of the campaign, drawing tens of thousands onto the streets.

French police arrested Jean-Claude Mas, the founder of the breast implant company PIP at the center of an international health scare, police said Thursday.

"Jean-Claude Mas was arrested at the home of his companion ... and taken into custody," said a police source, adding that officers had picked him up on Thursday morning.

Having once been the major power in European and world club football, Italy is rapidly becoming the sick man of Europe in footballing terms.

Only 10 years ago, Italy topped the UEFA country rankings but after Schalke 04 beat reigning champions Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals last season, they dropped below Germany to fourth and lost a place in the Champions League.

Cigarette butts could be a thing of the past on one Italian beach near Venice where the local mayor introduced a test ban on smoking Saturday.

Swimmers and sunbathers are being encouraged to put out their cigarettes on part of Bibione beach, in the municipality of San Michele al Tagliamento.