410,000 take part in new round of protests across France

Around 410,000 people took part in a new round of protests across France on Saturday, French news channel BFM TV reported, citing the Interior Ministry, said Xinhua.

In Paris, the police prefecture estimated that 110,000 people had taken part in the demonstrations. Meanwhile, more than 500 rioters attacked law enforcement officers on Cours de Vincennes.

However, the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) put the nationwide turnout at nearly 800,000, including 250,000 in Paris, according to BFM TV.

Several French cities had authorized demonstrations for Saturday, including Lille, Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Grenoble, Marseille, Toulouse, Amiens and Paris.

French police had made 135 arrests during demonstrations across the country by 1 p.m. local time (1100 GMT) on Saturday, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said at a press briefing.

On Oct. 17, around 550,000 people took part in protests across France. A total of 2,397 people were arrested during the protests, which were marred by violence, according to figures released by the French Interior Ministry.

Meanwhile, French police had made 135 arrests during demonstrations across the country by 1 p.m. local time (1100 GMT) on Saturday, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said at a press briefing.

Nunez said 136 public order incidents had been recorded nationwide during Saturday's demonstrations, with 35,000 people counted in public spaces nationwide so far.

Several French cities have authorized demonstrations for Saturday, including Lille, Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Grenoble, Marseille, Toulouse, Amiens and Paris, French television channel BFM TV reported.

For security reasons, the Paris public transport operator RATP said 24 metro stations in Paris would be closed from 9 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Saturday.

In Lyon, where demonstrations have been banned across a large part of the city center, small gatherings have been dispersed by law enforcement officers using tear gas grenades, BFM TV said.