Riot police clashed on Saturday with protesters in Paris who are hitting another weekend of rally against French President Emmanuel Macron.

Iran press/Europe: French police fired the first batches of tear gas on Saturday as massive crowds of protesters swarmed into the heart of the capital, Paris on the 4th weekend of unrest.

Hundreds were detained prior to and at the rally, according to Russia Today.

The figure was announced by French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.

According to him, 481 people were detained by police and 211 remain in custody.

Videos from the area show people coughing and sneezing after tear gas canisters were fired into the lines of demonstrators.

Beefing up its presence, law enforcement also deployed armored vehicles belonging to the French military police. The hardware was stationed right next to the Arc de Triomphe, which last week saw one of the fiercest battles between police and protesters.


Previous protests have ended with violence with two people killed and over 600 injured.

 

This is the fourth consecutive Saturday of Yellow Vests protests, with levels of violence between police and demonstrators that has not been seen in decades.

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Organized and systematic human rights violations by French police

Last week, the unrest peaked again, resulting in over 400 arrests, and about 600 people were also injured during the heavy-handed police response. 

The French government said for now it has abandoned the plans for fuel price hikes and a higher tax, which triggered the rallies.

French president threatened "severe" action against protesters. 

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Read more:

Shame on you, Macron tells French protesters

High cost of living brings protesters onto the streets of France

Two dead, 500 injured, as protesters return to street in France

Protest in France over soaring fuel prices leaves one dead

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Previous protests have ended with violence with two people killed and over 600 injured.
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Previous protests have ended with violence with two people killed and over 600 injured.