WORLD Paris in lockdown

France braces for more violence in protests over presidency

THE Eiffel Tower, Louvre museum and scores of shops on the Champs-Elysees are set to close their doors as authorities warn of fresh violence across France today.

More nationwide riots are expected this weekend as part of the “yellow vest” protests which have ballooned into the biggest crisis of Emmanuel Macron’s presidency.

The government is scrambling to stave off another weekend of burned cars and running street battles by the protesters, who are furious over rising costs of living they blame on high taxes.

An interior ministry official yesterday said authorities were bracing for “significant violence”, based on indications that protesters on both the far right and far left were planning to converge on Paris.

Officials fear they could be joined by hooligans set on rioting and looting.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said 8000 police would be deployed in Paris alongside a dozen armoured vehicles, which have not been used in urban areas since the suburban youth riots in 2005.

Mr Philippe also reiterated his appeal for calm, saying in a prime-time TV interview that the government was ready to consider “any measure which would allow us to boost spending power”.

Across the country some 89,000 police will be mobilised, up from 65,000 last weekend, when the country was rocked by scenes of unrest.

But so far the “yellow vest” movement shows no signs of losing steam, despite the government’s rollback of planned fuel tax hikes for January, one of the group’s core demands.

Shops and businesses along and near the famous ChampsElysees have been told to keep their doors closed.

The Garnier and Bastille opera houses have cancelled performances on Saturday and the doors of major museums will be shut.

Six Ligue 1 football games have also been postponed.