"Yellow vests" turn out for fifth weekend of protests in France
"Yellow vest" protesters have gathered in Paris and other cities for a fifth consecutive Saturday of demonstrations, BBC reported.
About 69,000 police have been mobilised across France to prevent a repeat of the violence of previous weeks. The movement, initially against a rise in fuel taxes, now addresses other issues, including education reforms.
Protesters defied a government call to suspend the action following Tuesday's attack on Strasbourg's Christmas market where a gunman killed four people.
Fewer than 3,000 people have turned out in Paris so far this Saturday, the authorities say. Last week, there were about 8,000.
Overall, some 33,500 have turned out across the country, police say. Some shops and department stores in the city have closed for the day.