Thousands of anti-government demonstrators marched in cities across France on Saturday in a new round of ‘yellow vest’ protests against President Emmanuel Macron, accused of ignoring the plight of millions of people struggling to make ends meet.
In Paris, epicentre of the fiery street clashes and vandalism that have made global headlines, 5000 riot police were on hand, using tall barricades and armoured vehicles to lock down the central Place de la Concorde and surrounding districts.
Hundreds of officers were also on guard on the Champs-Elysees, where banks, jewellery stores and other shops had boarded up windows in anticipation of renewed looting and violence.