France deploys 70,000 police and soldiers for Paris protests as unions report exhaustion

France has deployed 70,000 police and elite soldiers for weekend demonstrations in Paris, with armored vehicles and water cannons on standby. Authorities warn of a tough crackdown on violence, while businesses have barricaded and some residents have left the city. Police unions report extreme fatigue after weeks of unrest, with officers working 13-16 hour days and only one day off weekly. Many remain traumatized from October 17, when units were surrounded and attacked with projectiles and Molotov cocktails. There is confusion over the protest route, as police changed it late Friday and unions initially rejected the move before a court upheld the new plan. Demonstrators insist protests are peaceful, while police in Lyon used tear gas on a small group.