France, Oct. 22 -- The announcement followed a meeting with intelligence chiefs and senior ministers at the Elysee presidential palace. Macron blamed last weekend's riots and looting on ultra-left groups and vandals.

Demonstrations by trade unions would be allowed to go ahead but could be diverted along alternative routes to protect businesses, he said.

"Last Saturday we had political and seditious acts by ultra-left groups whose aim is to bring down the Republic," Macron said.

All protests planned for Saturday in Lyon have been banned, local authorities said. Protests planned for Thursday in Paris, Lyon, Lille and Grenoble were also banned. Protest bans

The Paris ban cited the organiser's "inability to prevent violence and vandalism"...