French government says 81,000 'Yellow Vests' demonstrate

AFP

Paris: Nearly 81,000 "Yellow Vests" had taken to the streets by mid-afternoon Saturday to protest against higher motor fuel taxes, about a third of the previous week's number, the French interior ministry said.

Of the total about 8,000 demonstrators - named for their bright yellow high visibility safety jackets - were in Paris where there were clashes with police who fired tear gas and water cannon on the Champs-Elysees.

The ministry said there had been 35 arrests nationwide, with 18 in the capital, while eight people were hurt, including two police, compared with 106 injured Saturday last week.