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Protesters, police briefly clash at Paris rally
1 of 3. Youths react around flames from burning trash near a news stand at the end a protest march in Paris March 19, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes
PARIS |
PARIS (Reuters) - Several hundred youths clashed briefly with police in Paris on Thursday at the end of a huge union rally called to denounce the French government's handling of the economic crisis, witnesses said.
Some 500-600 youths set fire to rubbish bins, smashed phone booths and threw bottles at the security forces.
Police fired teargas to disperse the crowd, swiftly clearing the huge Nation square in eastern Paris, which was the focal point of Thursday's union rally.
French media reported outbreaks of violence in at least two other cities during the day but said police swiftly brought the troubles under control.
Up to three million people took to the streets across France to protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's response the economic crisis and demand more help for struggling workers.
Similar violence marred a first day of union action on January 29 and such confrontations between protesters and police are relatively common at French demonstrations.
(Reporting by Gerard Bon; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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