French police out in force to prevent 'yellow vest' violence
Thousands of police fanned out across central Paris and other French cities Saturday for the 19th consecutive week of "yellow vest" protests, with officials vowing to prevent a repeat of the rioting and looting that marred last week's rally in the capital.
Several hundreds of demonstrators began marching shortly after midday from a square in the south of Paris towards the Sacre-Coeur basilica at Montmartre in the north, with banners calling for President Emmanuel Macron to "Get Lost!"
Authorities banned demonstrations in a large area in the west of the city, including the Champs-Elysees, the scene of last Saturday's rampage by hundreds of black-clad agitators.
Dozens of police vehicles, including armoured trucks and water cannons, encircled the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the iconic avenue, with officers searching people's bags and patrolling in front of boarded-up storefronts.
At the opposite end of the avenue access was completely blocked to the Place de la Concorde, near the ...