France faces "yellow jackets" with military forces

France faces "yellow jackets" with military forces

French troops joined the police in Paris on Saturday to deal with the "Yellow Jackets" protests, continuing for the 19th consecutive week, against President Emmanuel Macaron's government.

Protesters were barred from rallying on Champs Elysees after looting shops, institutions and sabotage last week, prompting the government to call up army units in the so-called Centennial operation.

Small groups of demonstrators gathered in other parts of Paris and other major French cities began the latest protests, which began in November after a general outcry over fuel taxes.

"The yellow jackets," according to the French government, have turned into "a more violent and wider reaction against the government of Macron despite the government's abolition of fuel taxes."