Paris police on Saturday fired tear gas to drive back protesters marking the first anniversary of anti-government "yellow vest" demonstrations, APA reports citing Euronews.
On the Place d'Italie in southern Paris, demonstrators, many clad in black and hiding their faces, set bins on fire and hurled projectiles at riot police while building barricades.
Clashes broke out between demonstrators and police near the Porte de Champerret as protesters were preparing to march across town towards Gare d'Austerlitz.
Police also intervened to prevent a few hundred demonstrators from occupying the Paris ring road.
Paris police said 41 people had been arrested.
***13:46
More than 20 subway and express train (RER) stations were shut down in Paris on Saturday morning in the run-up to protests as the yellow vests movement marks its first anniversary this weekend, APA reports citing Sputnik.
"On Saturday, November 16, by order of the police prefecture, starting from 7:00 a.m. [6:00 GMT], some stations/transport hubs are closed to the public in the run-up to numerous demonstrations in public places", public transport company RATP said in a statement.
The stations near the Champs-Elysees, a traditional venue for protests, will be closed. Stations near the Eiffel Tower, the Place de la Concorde and the National Assembly will also be shut down, while train service on metro lines 2 and 6 will be completely suspended.
In addition, over 50 bus routes will also be affected; the routes will either be shortened or changed to avoid blocked streets.
The planned time for the resumption of transport services has not been reported.
The movement plans large-scale weekend protests, including unauthorised gatherings, across France.
The wave of Yellow Vests rallies started in France on 17 November 2018. The protests were initially triggered by the government's intention to increase fuel taxes.
Even though the authorities abandoned their initial plan and introduced a set of measures to improve the socio-economic situation, protesters continue to take to the streets across France every weekend to express their wider discontent with the government's policies.
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