Yellow Vest protests in France enters 52nd week

By Yusuf Ozcan

PARIS (AA) - Yellow Vest protestors took to the streets Saturday in France for the 52nd straight week to demonstrate against President Emmanuel Macron’s economic policies.

Protestors seeking to enter a mall and train station in southern Montpellier were obstructed by police using tear gas. A total of 12 protestors were detained and four, including three policemen, were wounded.

In Toulouse, tension was high between security forces and protestors, which lead to the former’s use of tear gas on the latter.

Protests were also reported in various other cities.

Yellow Vest protests last November in response to rising fuel costs, which later turned into deadly anti-government riots.

The protests have left 11 dead, more than 4,245 injured and over 12,000 people arrested by security forces.

After the Notre Dame Cathedral, a symbol of Paris, suffered significant damage due to fire in April, police banned protests around the cathedral.

*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas