France sees new round of Yellow Vest, student protests

Although fewer protesters turned out in comparison with previous weeks, several cities saw clashes between police and demonstrators. Fewer protesters than expected turned out for the fourth weekend of mass demonstrations in France , although clashes with police were reported in several cities, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.

Protest organizers gave a higher nationwide count of over 250,000 protesters, which is nevertheless fewer than the 320,000 to 500,000 that were reported to have turned out last Saturday. Students and labor unions had called an authorized central Paris march "against the high cost of living and in support of young people." Separately, the country's so-called " Yellow Vest " movement — which gained notoriety eight years ago by violently protesting a proposed fuel tax hike rejected invitations to join the student rally.

Instead, the "Gilets Jaunes" held a banned event at Paris' Place de la Concorde , close to parliament and the presidential Elysee Palace.