France: Fuel rise protests continue across country

By Yusuf Ozcan

PARIS (AA) - Police used tear gas and water cannons on Saturday to disperse protests against a hike in fuel prices that turned violent.

Thousands of "yellow vest" protesters have gathered in Paris for the last two weeks to protest President Emmanuel Macron's controversial fuel tax.

During Saturday's protests, the yellow vests entered the famous Champs-Elysées Street throwing stones and bottles at the police and setting public property ablaze.

According to local media, 60 protestors were arrested during the demonstrations and 10 people, including three police officers, were wounded.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said 1,500 protesters marched onto the street.

Some 4,000 police officers are on duty in Paris.

Macron has been criticized for his pro-rich reforms which have made the lives of the lower- and middle-income group difficult.

According to a survey conducted in the country, 84 percent of French people support the yellow vests, mostly from the middle-income group.

So far, at least two people have been killed and over 780 people injured and 794 people have been detained during over a week of demonstrations.

In France, fuel prices have increased by more than 20 percent in the last year.