France, Oct. 24 -- Police arrested 135 people by midday and fired tear gas during a confrontation in Lyon, but Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said there had been "no major incident" at that stage.

Around 70,000 police and other security personnel were deployed nationwide, backed by armoured vehicles, helicopters and water cannon.

"We will not tolerate any violence or any disturbance of public order," Nunez said.

In Paris, the main march got under way in a calm and festive atmosphere, with demonstrators keen to put their demands at the centre of attention.

Claire, a 26-year-old nurse who declined to give her surname, said she had come to express her hopes for change.

"Not everyone is out to smash things up. Some of us are simply here...