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

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

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

The five unions that organized the protests represent public and private sectors, and are calling on the government to address deteriorating public services and high prices of goods.

Public and private sector workers were joined by students, who have organized their numerous protests of their own over the course of the past month.

One of the biggest student protests in October turned violent, 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.

Like what was seen in October, major rallies took place in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and elsewhere, with about 70,000 police officers and security forces 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, where the Eiffel Tower remained closed for the day. Police at one point used tear gas against protesters in the French capital.

Some reports of violence earlier in the day in Brittany, Rennes, Toulouse

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.

Broadcaster 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). Daily newspaper Le Monde reported that the demonstrators in Paris began to clear by the evening.

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 services go on strike

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.