Heavy clashes in Paris as "Yellow Vest" activists start another day of protest

Bins were set on fire and tear gas was deployed near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Saturday morning as "Yellow Vest" protesters started their third day of national action. Some 1,500 protesters wearing yellow vests gathered on the Place de L'Etoile, at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe in central Paris, were clashes erupted shortly before 09:00 CET when protesters attempted to force their way through a police checkpoint. By 16:00 CET police had arrested 140 protesters in Paris and had managed to wrestle control of the situation around the Arc de Triomple, according to French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. Sixty-five people were wounded including 11 security forces. Live footage earlier in the morning showed tear gas shrouding the gigantic Arc in smoke, protesters ripping cobblestones out of the road to throw at police officers and water cannons spraying the crowd. Hundreds of peaceful protesters, meanwhile, gathered just south of the Place de L'Etoile, on the Champs-Elys'ees. The Prime Minister condemned the "great violence" and the attacks on law enforcement officers. "We are committed to dialogue and freedom of expression. Anyone wishing to work on the definition of solutions will be welcome," he wrote on Twitter . He also warned that "nothing will be forgiven to those who come with the only desire to cause damage and provoke the police." Earlier in the morning Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told reporters that the checkpoints had been set up to prevent a repeat of the previous week when the demonstration in the French capital turned violent with protesters tearing down traffic lights and street signs and causing damage to local shops. Saturday marks the third day of national action for "Yellow Vest" activists who want President Emmanuel Macron to reverse his decision to increase taxes on fuel. The nationwide movement has been ongoing for more than two weeks with protesters setting up road blockages throughout the country, significantly slowing down traffic and the delivery of goods. Contrary to last week when protesters had been forbidden from gathering on the Champs Elys'ees - a highly-symbolic avenue near the presidential palace - authorities have this time allowed access and closed the street to traffic at 06:00 CET. Officials said they expected some 5,000 police and gendarmes in the capital, up from about 3,000 last Saturday. Another 5,000 will be deployed across France for other yellow vests protests, which have so far remained peaceful. Despite widespread public support for "yellow vests" - who take their name from the high-visibility jackets all motorists in France must carry in their vehicles - Macron has so far held steady. His approval rating has tumbled to just 26%, according to a recent Ipsos poll. This is a developing story. Updates to come.

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