French police clash with protesters as unrest spreads across cities

Police fired teargas and clashed with protesters as tens of thousands demonstrated across France on Saturday over high prices and welfare system failures, with officials blaming violence on the "ultra-left." In Marseille, protesters stormed a town hall, while Paris saw fireworks and projectiles fired at authorities. The protests, echoing the 2018 yellow vests movement, began last month at Paris schools over teacher absences and poor facilities, spreading nationwide against inequality and weak public spending. Authorities recorded 140 protests involving 32,800 people by midday, with dozens detained and the CGT union backing calls for higher wages and pensions. President Emmanuel Macron appealed for calm, stressing protest rights must respect people and property, as police closed metro stations and banned some gatherings. The unrest has drawn international attention, with thousands arrested, hundreds injured, and police violence allegations under investigation.