Police clash with up protesters as up to 6,000 Yellow Vests protest against President Emmanuel Macron for the 22nd Saturday in a row

The clashes occurred in the French city of Toulouse, even as Macron prepared a series of policy announcements aimed at quelling the anti-government protests

Some 5,000-6,000 protesters had gathered on the Allee Jean Jaures, an avenue in the city centre, and on nearby streets; in total 31,000 protested across France

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Protesters from the “Gilets Jaunes” (Yellow Vests) movement clash with French riot police in Toulouse, France, on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 5:03am, 14 Apr 2019Updated: 5:03am, 14 Apr 2019

Yellow vest demonstrators clashed with riot police in the French city of Toulouse on Saturday, even as President Emmanuel Macron prepared a series of policy announcements aimed at quelling 22 consecutive weekends of anti-government protests.

Police in the southeastern city fired tear gas and arrested 23 people after several hundred demonstrators threw objects and set fire to cars, motorbikes, a construction cabin and rubbish bins.

Protesters also tried to enter areas of the city from which they had been banned.

Altogether between 5,000 and 6,000 protesters had gathered on the Allee Jean Jaures, a wide avenue in the city centre, and on nearby side streets.

Police restrain a man during a protest by the Yellow Vests during the “Act XXII” demonstration – the 22nd consecutive national protest on a Saturday – in Toulouse. Photo: EPA-EFE

Activist groups had said on social media networks that Toulouse would be the focus for the 22nd round of demonstrations, prompting city mayor Jean-Claude Moudenc to express concern ahead of Saturday’s protests.

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