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A water cannon and rounds of teargas were used by riot police against thousands of French ‘Yellow Vest’ fuel protesters in Paris today as the Champs Elysee was reduced to a battlefield.
The worst violence took place on the most famous avenue in the city where a huge crowd called for President Emmanuel Macron to resign.
"They included hooded demonstrators who were determined to cause trouble," said a police officer at the scene.
"We’ve been forced to deploy a water cannon and used tear gas to stop them getting to a secure zone.
"They’re breaking up traffic obstacles to create missiles to throw at us. It’s getting very violent."
The zone included the Elysee Palace – Mr Macron’s official home – and the Place de la Concorde, opposite the National Assembly, France’s parliament.