UP

French troops reinforced ahead of Yellow Vests protests

Home page World
12 Punto 14 Punto 16 Punto 18 Punto

This weekend's wave of 'Yellow Vests' protests arrived in Paris on Saturday despite a ban on protesting along the Champs-Elysees, which was announced by French Prime Minister Edouard Phillippe after violence erupted last weekend.

Axar.az reports citing France24.

Ahead of the 19th Saturday seeing Yellow Vests protests in France, troops have been mobilised to help the police focus on protecting public order in Paris. The military can go as far as opening fire if their life or the life of people they defend are threatened, Gen. Bruno Leray, Paris military governor, said Friday.

French police have banned protests on the Champs-Elysees and in its vicinity, which had been slated to take place this Saturday, 23 March, according to their statement. Similar precautionary measures have been taken by police in the French cities of Nice, Marseille and Metz.

The French government's spokesman, Benjamin Griveaux, announced earlier that Operation Sentinelle troops would be redeployed to protect public order at the Yellow Vest demonstrations expected on Saturday. These forces patrol streets and protect airports, train stations, places of worship and other sites; they were mobilised for anti-terrorism protection after the 2015 terrorist attacks.

French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that the soldiers would not be engaged in keeping public order.

"Their [soldiers'] mission is to fight against terrorism and to protect vulnerable sites, this is for policemen and military police to get to the operational ground. In our country, the army is not in any way in charge of public order or law enforcement," Macron told a press conference after the European Council.

Last Saturday's protest left Champs Elysees in Paris in tatters. The government fired Paris police chief Michel Delpuech and promised bans on demonstrations in certain areas, naming Champs Elysees and Capitol Square in Toulouse as examples. The prefecture of Haute-Garonne has already reportedly banned protests in Capitol Square this Saturday.
The Yellow Vests movement was launched in mid-November in response to a planned fuel price hike. After several weeks of protests, the French government backed away from the tax proposal and offered several other concessions, as well as a platform for the French people to air their grievances. Nevertheless, the weekend protests have continued.

Date
2019.03.23 / 16:29
Author
Axar.az
Comments
See also

There was a strong earthquake in Pakistan

NATO has been deceiving for 15 years

Putin will go down in history leaving behind Stalin

EU countries agreed, but the final decision - Borrell

Rosguardia destroyed Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile

Biden asked: Netanyahu sends a team for the operation

Russian troops launched a frontal attack

Erdogan congratulated Putin

Azerbaijan does not want to join NATO - Stoltenberg

Putin came and sang together with his opponents

Latest
Xocalı soyqırımı — 1992-ci il Bağla
Bize yazin Bağla
ArxivBağla