Demonstrators gather at Place de la République during a nationwide day of protests in Paris, France, as unions stage strikes alongside student-led demonstrations that have gripped the country for weeks. (AFP pic)PARIS: Thousands of striking workers protested across France on Thursday against the rising cost of living in a new escalation following weeks of demonstrations, with police firing tear gas as violence and vandalism broke out in some cities.
More than 270,000 people had already taken to the streets across the country, the interior ministry reported, before a major march kicked off in Paris from 2pm.
The demonstrations come as the eurozone's second largest economy battles to redress its finances, six months ahead of elections to replace centrist president Emmanuel Macron, with the far right leading in opinion polls.
