France, Oct. 24 -- Paris police said "more than 500 rioters" were attacking officers on the Cours de Vincennes, in the south-east of the capital. The confrontations began at around 5:30pm, shortly after the procession reached Porte de Vincennes.

Protesters threw projectiles at officers, who responded with water cannon and tear gas. Police said they were manoeuvring to arrest those responsible and help disperse the crowd.

The violence followed a calm and festive start to the Paris march, where demonstrators called for better pay and a better future while criticising government restrictions on protests.

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