Riots over rising fuel costs plunge Paris into chaos as police struggle to maintain order

More than 3000 police have flooded onto the streets of Paris as protests in the French capital turned violent.

Police and gendarmes used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the Yellow Vest protesters, with clashes breaking out along the famous Champs Elysees boulevard.

Rocks and bottles were thrown at police, fires set and protesters set up barricades along the Champs Elysees, in the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe, causing tourists to flee.

The unrest comes after 10 days of protests and riots across France which have already left two people dead and more than 600 injured.

Dozens of police have also been injured, mainly heading off an attempt by protesters last weekend to storm the Elysee Palace, the official residence of French president Emmanuel Macron.

The “gilets jaunes’’ or Yellow Vests, named for the high-visibility vests they are wearing, began their action to demonstrate against rising petrol and diesel prices.

But the protests have grown and demonstrators on Saturday were calling for the resignation of Mr Macron, who is trying to reform France’s sluggish labour laws.

While union and student protests are fairly common in Paris, Saturday’s violent clashes were blamed on supporters of the far-right politician Marine Le Pen, with accusations her National Rally party supporters had infiltrated the protests.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the protests had “evolved’’ after Ms Le Pen urged people to turn out to the Champs Elysees.

“There are members of the ultra-right putting up barriers on the Champs Élysées. Our security forces perfectly anticipated this situation,” he said.

“They have responded to Marine Le Pen’s call.

“The right to demonstrate is a fundamental right and we will protect that, but we cannot protect those carried away by violence.’’

Ms Le Pen denied the claim and told French TV the violence had been perpetrated by just “a few rioters.’’

“Why did Mr Castaner let these people on to the Champs Élysées? He is responsible. It’s a strategy of tension,” she said.

Police had set aside the parkland under the Eiffel Tower for the protest, but Mr Castaner said 5000 of the 8000 protesters who arrived in Paris by bus had ignored the park and gone straight to the Champs Elysees.

Journalists at the scene reported that a number of protesters had been attempting to leave peacefully, and expressed no interest in clashing with police.

Protests were held last weekend at 2000 locations around France, and two people died in traffic accidents at illegal road blocks put up by protesters.

More than 550 people have been injured, most of them stabbed, and almost 100 police officers hurt.