00:01French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced a major police presence will be deployed on the country's streets this weekend
00:08amid further expected protests.
00:11France has seen weeks of unrest and a show of anger against grievances including rising cost of living and conditions
00:17of France's education system.
00:19Last weekend, demonstrations escalated into violence as marches were hijacked by groups of masked rioters who started fires, smashed storefronts
00:28and looted shops.
00:30French authorities announced partial curfews on Monday banning public gatherings in some areas of Paris and other cities after 9
00:37p.m.
00:38French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said some military forces would be deployed on static guarding duties to free up police
00:45for the expected demonstrations.
00:47He added that he was also considering banning demonstrations that have not been declared and could lead to public disorder.
00:55In a country with strong protest culture, rioting is not uncommon and is often sparked as a response to police
01:02violence, some experts say.
01:04Government critics and human rights campaigners have alleged that police tactics in the last month have been unnecessarily violent.
01:12Much of the criticism focuses on rubber bullet launchers known in France as LBDs and stun grenades, which critics blame
01:19for serious injuries to protesters.
