France, Oct. 24 -- Saturday's march drew 13,000 people, according to the prefecture, while organisers put the turnout at 26,000. Families, trade unionists and left-wing politicians joined the procession, which dispersed without incident in the early afternoon.

Authorities had deployed nearly 3,000 police officers and gendarmes amid fears of violence, placing the city centre under tight security. But demonstrators described a friendly atmosphere, with many saying that coming together helped ease their anxiety about the far right's prospects.

"It's important for us to be here, to turn out in large numbers, and that reassures us," said one protester, Marine Pons, who had come to "voice her fears".

"This is the second time the far right ha...