Police fire tear gas, water cannon

Police yesterday fired tear gas and water cannon in central Paris against "yellow vest" protesters demanding French President Emmanuel Macron roll back tax hikes on motor fuel.

Some 3,000 police were deployed in the capital as demonstrators who have blocked French roads over the past week wearing their now signature high-visibility jackets caused another day of disruption after calls to bring Paris to a standstill.

AFP reporters said several thousand had gathered by early yesterday on the famous Champs-Elysees where they clashed with police trying to prevent them moving down to the Place de la Concorde near the Louvre museum. Police said the protestors had tried to break through a cordon several times but had been prevented from doing so, with tear gas used more than once.

Riot police detain protesters. Photo: AFP

Police said yesterday's incidents were linked to the "presence of members of the far-right who harassed the security forces." Police said eight people had so far been arrested for throwing projectiles.

The demonstrations were sparked by an increase in diesel tax, justified as an anti-pollution levy by the government but have morphed into a broad opposition front to centrist Macron.

Two people have died and over 750 people, including 136 cops, were injured during the week of demonstrations.

Macron has refused to back down on taxing polluters.