Macron limits French weekend protests to union marches

Only protests run by unions will be allowed on Saturday, with alternative routes outside city centres to protect businesses. Others will be banned wherever possible, Macron said.

Since the riots

1. Oct 17

   About 550,000 march across France; riots and looting break out

2. Oct 22

   Paris, Lyon, Lille and Grenoble ban protests; Macron announces more bans

3. Oct 23

   Macron meets high school student groups for the first time in the crisis

Bans and talks have followed last Saturday's riots, which came during a march of about 550,000 people.

Saturday's security deployment

70,000 police and gendarmes

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 70,000 police and gendarmes will be deployed on Saturday, 20 per cent more than last weekend.

France

A second national day of protests is set for Saturday. Paris allows one march, between Bastille and Nation, and Lyon has banned all demonstrations.