France protesters tear-gassed, clash with cops as over 4 lakh join anti-govt stir

Over four lakh people took to the streets across France on Saturday to protest against rising living costs, economic inequality and deteriorating public services, as police fired tear gas and used water cannon to disperse demonstrators in several cities.The demonstrations unfolded despite a massive security deployment aimed at preventing a repeat of last weekend's violence. The French Interior Ministry put the nationwide turnout at around 4.1 lakh, while trade unions estimated that nearly 8 lakh people had participated, news agencies Reuters and AFP reported. (Photo: Reuters) In Paris, where police estimated that 1.1 lakh people joined the march, clashes broke out towards the end of an otherwise largely peaceful demonstration. Police used batons and tear gas to push back groups of protesters, while water cannon was also deployed, AFP reported.Clashes were also reported in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lille, Nantes and other cities. Police fired tear gas at several locations as tensions escalated. In Marseille, protesters blocked a street with metal sheets, set rubbish bins on fire and threw stones and bottles at riot police, Reuters reported. (Photo: Reuters) 70,000 POLICE DEPLOYED ACROSS FRANCE; 135 ARRESTEDAuthorities deployed 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across the country, 10,000 more than the previous weekend, when widespread looting and vandalism damaged thousands of shops and businesses.French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 135 people had been arrested nationwide by early afternoon. Police searches had also uncovered fireworks, metal balls and other objects that could be used as weapons. (Photo: Reuters) Paris had taken on the appearance of a city under lockdown, with shopkeepers boarding up storefronts, major museums, including the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay, shutting their doors and more than 20 metro stations closed as a precaution.PROTESTERS ANGRY OVER RESTRICTIONSThe Paris demonstration was moved at the last minute from Bastille in the city centre to Porte d'Italie on the southeastern edge of the capital. Unions criticised the decision, with one representative calling it “scandalous” and accusing the authorities of restricting the right to demonstrate.The protests began last month with student demonstrations over school conditions in suburban Paris before expanding into a broader movement against rising living costs and the government's handling of public services. (Photo: Reuters) Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who joined the Paris march, praised demonstrators for their restraint but warned that protests would continue until President Emmanuel Macron addressed the country's growing social discontent. (Photo: Reuters) Meanwhile, the Yellow Vests movement has also called for another round of demonstrations on October 31, including rallies and a sit-in outside parliament and city halls across the country.For those unversed, the Yellow Vests are a grassroots French protest movement that began in 2018 against rising fuel prices and living costs, later growing into a wider movement against economic inequality and President Emmanuel Macron's policies.- Ends(with inputs from Reuters and AFP)