Renewed yellow vest protests hit with police water cannon, tear gas in Paris
Thousands of French yellow vest protesters marched through Paris on Saturday for a ninth straight weekend as others took to the streets in the central city of Bourges to denounce President Emmanuel Macron's economic policies amid high security measures as authorities feared more violence. Protesters walked through central Paris from the Finance Ministry in the east to the surroundings of the Arc de Triomphe in the west. Some scuffles broke out between police and protesters near the monument. Security forces used tear gas to push back some protesters who were throwing rocks and other objects at them.
- World
- Reuters
- Published Date: 12:00 | 12 January 2019
- Modified Date: 06:06 | 12 January 2019
Central Paris was in lockdown against another feared eruption of violence by radical elements in the "gilets jaunes" (yellow vest) movement, with bridges across the Seine river closed and official buildings such as parliament and the Elysee presidential palace protected by police barriers.
Groups of protesters also gathered on and around Paris's famous Champs Elysees boulevard, the scene of disturbances in recent weeks, many of them calling loudly for Macron to resign.
"Macron, we are going to tear down your place!" one banner read.