France, Oct. 22 -- The Paris ban cited the organisers' "inability to prevent violence and vandalism", a police source said. Thursday's planned protest in the city was organised by the inter-university assembly Interfac IDF, which represents students and high school pupils across the Île-de-France region.

The ban runs from 8am to 8pm and covers key Paris landmarks, including the Elysee presidential palace, both houses of parliament, the Louvre museum and the Champs-Elysees.

Rallies are also prohibited at Bastille and Republique and in the Chatelet-Les Halles shopping area, which was heavily targeted by looters over the weekend.

A march has also been banned in Lyon, where protesters destroyed the tourist office last weekend. The aut...