France Erupts In Clashes & Protests; Teargas Fired In Paris, Clashes In French Cities | WATCH
France deployed around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide, but thousands of protesters returned to the streets as the country entered another weekend of demonstrations. In Montpellier, protesters marched despite restrictions on demonstrations in the city centre before tear gas filled the streets. In Nantes, police used water cannon and tear gas as riot officers pursued demonstrators. Thousands also marched through Paris under a massive security presence, while tensions were reported in Marseille. French authorities dramatically reinforced security after the previous weekend’s violence, vandalism and looting. By mid-afternoon, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 135 people had been arrested nationwide. The movement began with high-school students demanding better conditions before expanding to include grievances over wages, pensions, living costs and public services. Despite protest restrictions, business closures and one of France’s largest police deployments, demonstrators returned — putting the government’s increasingly forceful strategy back at the centre of the confrontation.
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