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'Yellow-vest' protesters defy government to gather in Paris | 'Yellow-vest' protesters defy government to gather in Paris |
(about 1 hour later) | |
"Yellow vest" protesters have gathered in Paris and other cities for a fifth consecutive Saturday of demonstrations. | |
About 69,000 police have been mobilised across France to prevent a repeat of the violence of previous weeks. | |
The movement, initially against a rise in fuel taxes, now addresses other issues, including education reforms. | |
Protesters defied a government call to suspend the action following Tuesday's attack on Strasbourg's Christmas market where a gunman killed four people. | |
Seven people have died in the "gilets jaunes" (yellow vest) protests so far, the latest in an accident resulting from a blockade by protesters on Friday. | |
Fewer than 3,000 people have turned out in Paris so far this Saturday, the authorities say. Last week, there were about 8,000. | |
Police have stopped and questioned 95 people in the capital, a fifth of the number detained a week ago. | |
Overall, some 33,500 have turned out across the country, police say. | |
Some shops and department stores in the city have closed for the day. | |
Scuffles broke out in the centre of Paris on Saturday and police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd trying to make their way through police lines. | Scuffles broke out in the centre of Paris on Saturday and police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd trying to make their way through police lines. |
"Last time, we were here for taxes," said 28-year-old called Jeremy told the AFP news agency. | "Last time, we were here for taxes," said 28-year-old called Jeremy told the AFP news agency. |
"This is for the institutions - we want more direct democracy," he said, adding that people needed to "shout to make themselves heard". | "This is for the institutions - we want more direct democracy," he said, adding that people needed to "shout to make themselves heard". |
Some museums are closed, but both the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower remain open. | Some museums are closed, but both the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower remain open. |
Smaller protests have also been reported in Toulouse, Grenoble and Lyon. In Calais, a group of "yellow vests" blocked the access road to the port. | |
The impact of the demonstrations has been keenly felt in France. The government has been forced to bow to pressure and adjust its economic course. | |
President Emmanuel Macron responded to the nationwide street protests by scrapping an unpopular fuel tax rise, and promising an extra €100 (£90; $114) a month for minimum wage earners and tax cuts for pensioners. | President Emmanuel Macron responded to the nationwide street protests by scrapping an unpopular fuel tax rise, and promising an extra €100 (£90; $114) a month for minimum wage earners and tax cuts for pensioners. |
However, it is far from clear that he has done enough to defuse public anger. | However, it is far from clear that he has done enough to defuse public anger. |
The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says some in the movement are calling for a pause following President Macron's concessions, but there are still yellow vests around the country who feel now is not the time to ease the pressure. | The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says some in the movement are calling for a pause following President Macron's concessions, but there are still yellow vests around the country who feel now is not the time to ease the pressure. |
On Friday, a driver died following a collision with a truck in Erquelinnes, a Walloon municipality on the border with Belgium. The truck had been held up by a group of yellow-vest protesters. | On Friday, a driver died following a collision with a truck in Erquelinnes, a Walloon municipality on the border with Belgium. The truck had been held up by a group of yellow-vest protesters. |
Six other people have died in connection with the protests. | Six other people have died in connection with the protests. |