Protesters from the Yellow Vest movement took to the streets across France on Saturday, marking the 21st consecutive week of mass demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron.
The protesters gathered at Republique Square and marched towards La Defense, a major business district outside Paris. Brief brawls erupted between police and the Yellow Vests, resulting in 43 arrests, according to local media.
Eight protesters, including Yellow Vest movement's leader Eric Drouet, were fined for attempting to stage a protest on Champs-Elysees Avenue, where protests were banned last Saturday.
French Interior Ministry said that 22,300 people participated in Saturday's protests while Yellow Vests claimed the figure was 73,420.
In addition to Paris, protests were also held in two northern cities of Rouen and Lille.
Yellow Vest protests began in November 2018 as a reaction to rising fuel costs, which later turned into deadly anti-government riots.
The protests have left 11 people dead and more than 2,000 injured, according to the French government.
Some 8,400 people have been arrested since the beginning of protests and about 2,000 have been remanded in custody.
Reporting by Yusuf Ozcan in Paris, writing by Can Erozden in Ankara
Anadolu Agency
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