A planned nationwide ban on indoor smoking has gone up in smoke in France, the Washington Post reported April 21.

Reeling from massive protests over a controversial employment policy, French leaders backed away from another plan guaranteed to cause a public outcry: banning smoking in the nation's beloved cafes and bars.

"The government leaders are so frightened they cannot move," said Claude Evin, a former French health minister and advocate for smoking bans. "They are startled by their own shadow. France is facing a terrible situation with such leaders."

The decision to delay implementation of the ban came two days after Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin withdrew a youth labor law that sparked massive protests.

"The government backed down because they already upset a lot of people lately and they don't need bartenders and clients to be mad as well," said restaurant owner and trade association head Francois Attrazic.