Tensions are high in France. Police intervenes with demonstrators

In France, the police intervened with tear gas against the demonstrators today, in new protests held across the country with anger over the high cost of living, deteriorating public services and students' classroom conditions.

Authorities, who wanted to prevent a repeat of the riots, looting and street violence of a week ago, took extensive security measures with helicopters and armored vehicles in major cities, especially the capital Paris.

A curfew was imposed in some parts of Paris, shopkeepers boarded up their shop windows, and the doors of museums such as the world-famous Louvre and Musée d'Orsay were locked.

While Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that approximately 70 thousand security guards would be on the field today, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu warned late yesterday that the "threat" of violence "remains high".

Prior to last week's violence, questions had been raised about police preparedness and intelligence gathering efforts; The number of security forces deployed this weekend was increased by approximately 20 percent.

135 PEOPLE WERE DETAINED

There are clashes between police and demonstrators in many cities of the country. Tension rose in cities including Lyon, Marseille, Lille and Nice. Police intervened against the demonstrators with tear gas and pressurized water.

While French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that they will not allow public order to be disrupted, it was announced that 135 people have been detained so far.

Hundreds of workplaces were looted and 2,700 people were detained during the protests last week.

According to Reuters, Paris' cultural and performing arts sector was also shuttered as galleries and museums were closed as a precaution before new demonstrations.

The locked black iron gates of the Louvre Museum blocked access to both the entire grounds and the garden; Disappointed tourists who could not see the Mona Lisa painting just looked inside through the locked doors.

The closure decisions included the entire Tuileries Gardens complex, which opens out from the Louvre, as well as the Musée d'Orsay, Orangerie, Jeu de Paume and Picasso museums.

The Paris Opera closed both its Palais Garnier and Opéra Bastille buildings, citing concerns for the safety of staff and audiences; Organizers of the prestigious Art Basel Paris fair also canceled its weekend program.

Speaking to Reuters, 21-year-old French visitor Heidi Rosar expressed her reaction by saying, "This is the third museum we came to the door of and saw that it was closed. They should have warned us."

59-year-old French woman Catherine Sebbagh said, "How could we know? We didn't think that a museum could be closed. We are a little naive."

"We wanted to at least see the pyramid," said Don Nowschuk, a 67-year-old Canadian who came for a two-night stay in the City of Lights, referring to the Louvre's iconic glass entrance.

Suggesting that local authorities may be overreacting, Nowschuk said, "There is so much security that you would think it would be enough to protect the museum. It is a bit strange to see so many armed police around Paris. We are used to guns, but not like this."