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France’s ‘yellow vests’ protesters charge on, burn cars despite arrests

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French police arrests 107 people as protests over diesel tax hike turns violent

France’s ‘yellow vests’ protesters seem unfazed despite the arrest of 211 people by security officials as they hurled projectiles, torched cars and vandalised shops and restaurants in a fourth weekend of unrest over a hike in diesel tax.

Reports say police used tear gas, water cannon and horses to charge protesters on roads fanning out from the Champs Elysees boulevard.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said there had been about 10,000 protesters in Paris by early evening and some 125,000 across the country.

Bordeaux, Lyon, Toulouse and other cities also saw major clashes between protesters and police on Saturday.

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“The situation is now under control,” Castaner said at a joint news conference with Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.

French authorities moved to close the Eifel Tower and the Louvre following the recent wave of violent protests over the increase in diesel tax.

Reports say other tourism landmarks in Paris will also be closed as authorities have ordered the drafting of about 89,000 police across the country.

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