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Yellow vest movement: Paris police detain hundreds of protesters Yellow vest protest in Paris sees police detain hundreds
(about 2 hours later)
Police in Paris have fired tear gas on protesters as a fourth weekend of anti-government protests turned violent. Police in Paris have fired rubber bullets and tear gas on protesters as a fourth weekend of anti-government protests turned violent.
The clashes came after up to 8,000 demonstrators gathered in the city centre. More than 500 people have been taken into custody.The clashes came after up to 8,000 demonstrators gathered in the city centre. More than 500 people have been taken into custody.
At least 30 people have been injured in the capital, including three police officers. At least 30 people have been injured, including three police officers.
The "yellow vest" movement opposed fuel tax rises but ministers say it has been hijacked by "ultra-violent" protesters.The "yellow vest" movement opposed fuel tax rises but ministers say it has been hijacked by "ultra-violent" protesters.
Some 8,000 police and 12 armoured vehicles have been deployed in Paris, and nearly 90,000 countrywide. Some 8,000 police officers and 12 armoured vehicles have been deployed in Paris, and nearly 90,000 officers were deployed countrywide.
Last week, hundreds of people were arrested and scores injured in violence in Paris - some of the worst street clashes in the French capital for decades.Last week, hundreds of people were arrested and scores injured in violence in Paris - some of the worst street clashes in the French capital for decades.
What is happening this weekend?What is happening this weekend?
There have been a number of confrontations. Bins were set alight on the Champs-Elysées and cars were torched on Boulevard de Courcelles, about 2km (1.2 miles) north. There have been a number of confrontations. Some protesters have been seen smashing shop fronts, painting walls with graffiti and setting fire to cars.
Video footage showed one demonstrator being hit in the torso with a rubber bullet while standing in front of a line of police with his hands up. Two photographers working for Le Parisien were also hit, the newspaper reported.
Water cannon were deployed on a street east of the city centre.Water cannon were deployed on a street east of the city centre.
TV pictures have shown what appear to be far-right groups setting up barricades. Armoured vehicles are being sent to deal with them, and French media say this is the first time they have been deployed in metropolitan Paris. By 17:00 local time (16:000 GMT), different groups of protesters were converging on Place de la République. As well as the yellow-vest demonstration, a climate-change march was also being held in the city.
Different police tactics The vandals move in
By Hugh Schofield, BBC News, ParisBy Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris
At the top end of the Champs-Elysées, near the Arc de Triomphe, there are sporadic upsurges of tension when riot police move out from their positions to retake ground and push back the more aggressive of the protesters. As evening descends, the focus has shifted away from the Champs-Elysées to the surrounding streets and boulevards.
Occasionally projectiles are thrown at the police, and some tear gas - but so far the disorder is contained, and nothing like on the scale of last Saturday. This is where the genuine yellow-vest protesters are outnumbered by groups of political agitators and common vandals.
The police are using different tactics - they're much more mobile and are using snatch squads to seize identified troublemakers. They are torching cars and smashing shop windows, much as they did last week.
Many of those arrested will have been of people journeying to, rather than at, the scene of the protests - and found to be carrying projectiles. The riot police are reacting swiftly - charging rioters and sending in snatch squads to seize suspects. It is a scene of sporadic violence, but compared to last Saturday, the forces of law and order appear to be more in control.
As the day moves on, the government must be hoping that this comparatively restrained level of trouble remains the norm.
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the numbers of arrests were greater than during the whole of the previous weekend.Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the numbers of arrests were greater than during the whole of the previous weekend.
"We will ensure that the rest of Saturday unfolds in the best possible conditions," he said."We will ensure that the rest of Saturday unfolds in the best possible conditions," he said.
Meanwhile on the outskirts of Paris, protesters blocked Porte Maillot, one of the main routes into the city from the outer ring road. Yellow vests briefly stopped traffic on the ring road itself, the Boulevard Périphérique, before being cleared by police. The security forces are seeking to prevent a repeat of last weekend in the capital, where the Arc de Triomphe was vandalised and police were attacked.
Correspondents say more flashpoints are possible on the edge of the city, where it is harder for police to filter protesters. Six matches in the top tier of France's football league were postponed. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and other sites have been closed all day in Paris.
How have the protests spread?
Demonstrations are being held in several other cities including Lyon, Marseille and Grenoble, where a local leader of the yellow vests is reported to have been arrested.Demonstrations are being held in several other cities including Lyon, Marseille and Grenoble, where a local leader of the yellow vests is reported to have been arrested.
They have even spread to Belgium. About 70 people were arrested in the capital Brussels but there was no violence. Protests against climate change are also taking place in various locations as well as Paris.
Protests against climate change are also being held in some French cities, including Paris. The sentiment of the anti-government protests has inspired other spin-off protests in nearby countries. About 100 people were arrested in the capital Brussels. Some threw paving stones, fireworks, flares and other objects at police, according to AP news agency.
The number of security officers deployed across the country has increased to 89,000, up from 65,000 last weekend. In the Netherlands, a protest was held outside parliament in The Hague, with an estimated 100 participants.
The security forces are seeking to prevent a repeat of last weekend in the capital, where the Arc de Triomphe was vandalised, police were attacked and cars overturned and burned.
On social media, some activists have called for attacks on police and the Elysée palace in an "Act IV" drama.
One MP, Benoît Potterie, received a bullet in the post, accompanied by the words: "Next time it will be between your eyes."
Six matches in the top tier of France's football league have been postponed. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and other sites are closed in Paris.
Where are we with the yellow vest movement?Where are we with the yellow vest movement?
The "gilets jaunes" protesters are so-called because they have taken to the streets wearing the high-visibility yellow clothing that is required to be carried in every vehicle by French law.The "gilets jaunes" protesters are so-called because they have taken to the streets wearing the high-visibility yellow clothing that is required to be carried in every vehicle by French law.
The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Paris says that over the past few weeks, the social media movement has morphed from a protest over fuel prices to a leaderless spectrum of interest groups and differing demands.The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Paris says that over the past few weeks, the social media movement has morphed from a protest over fuel prices to a leaderless spectrum of interest groups and differing demands.
Its core aim, to highlight the economic frustration and political distrust of poorer working families, still has widespread support, our correspondent says.Its core aim, to highlight the economic frustration and political distrust of poorer working families, still has widespread support, our correspondent says.
An opinion poll on Friday showed a dip in support, but it still stood at 66%. An opinion poll on Friday showed a dip in support for the protests, but it still stood at 66%.
President Emmanuel Macron's ratings have fallen amid the crisis, and he is planning a national address next week, his office has said. Some have criticised him for keeping too low a profile.President Emmanuel Macron's ratings have fallen amid the crisis, and he is planning a national address next week, his office has said. Some have criticised him for keeping too low a profile.
What has the government conceded?What has the government conceded?
The government has said it is scrapping the unpopular fuel tax increases in its budget and has frozen electricity and gas prices for 2019.The government has said it is scrapping the unpopular fuel tax increases in its budget and has frozen electricity and gas prices for 2019.
The problem is that protests have erupted over other issues.The problem is that protests have erupted over other issues.
Granting concessions in some areas may not placate all the protesters, some of whom are calling for higher wages, lower taxes, better pensions, easier university requirements and even the resignation of the president.Granting concessions in some areas may not placate all the protesters, some of whom are calling for higher wages, lower taxes, better pensions, easier university requirements and even the resignation of the president.
Some of Mr Macron's critics call him "the president of the rich".Some of Mr Macron's critics call him "the president of the rich".
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