France: More than 600,000 people protest as cost-of-living anger grows

Hundreds of thousands of people descended on the streets of France for a new round of protests over the rising cost of living on Thursday.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the number of protesters had ballooned over the course of the afternoon, going from 270,000 to 600,000 in the evening.

The protests, organized by five unions that represent public and private sectors, were to call on the government to tackle anger over deteriorating public services and high prices of goods.

With having taken to the streets on Thursday, public and private sector workers joined students who have held numerous protests over the course of the last month.

During one of the biggest student protests in October, demonstrations degenerated into violence, with rioters having vandalized stores. Flames went up from the roof of the town hall of Limoges in central France.

French President Emmanuel Macron blamed ultra-left groups for the violence and vowed more security personnel at protests.

This time too, major rallies took place again in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and elsewhere.

About 70,000 police officers and security forces were deployed throughout the country.

Protests were largely peaceful, though there were reports about riot police having clashed with protesters in Lyon.

There were reports about incidents of escalation in Paris too, where the Eiffel Tower remained closed for the day.

Police at one point used tear gas against protesters in the French capital.

There was some violence in Nantes, Pau, Orleans, Rennes and Toulouse, as well.

Demonstrations kicked off in the southern cities of Marseille and Lyon, and Nantes in the west, on Thursday morning.

Authorities in the western region of Brittany said "masked individuals" had tried to block roads in the city of Rennes.

BFM TV reported that a high school near the southwestern city of Toulouse was set on fire.

The main protest in Paris began at 2 p.m. local time (1300 GMT).

Reuters reported that high school students and other protesters had already faced off against riot police in the French capital on Thursday morning after they blocked a street with rubbish bins.

Public and private education unions called for staff to walk off the job, as well as unions representing rail workers, public hospitals and postal services.

They are demanding an increase in the minimum wage, across-the-board wage raises, tax reforms and better learning conditions for young people.

The Education Ministry said just over 15% of French teaching staff went on strike. French power unions also joined the action, state-owned utility EDF said.

About a third of France's high schools were closed, either because of student blockades or striking teachers.

Media reports said state railway operator SNCF expected only minor disruptions to long-distance services.