Curfews imposed across French cities

French authorities set curfews in Paris, Lille and Nice on Monday after a weekend of riots and looting during anti-government protests over austerity measures.

Paris restrictions take effect

Paris police barred protests in certain areas from eight pm and imposed a curfew around Place de la Republique and Les Halles from eleven pm until six am Tuesday.

Curfews for minors in northern cities

A curfew for minors was set between eight pm and six am for two days in Lille, Douai, Wattignies and Denain with agreement from local mayors.

Nice and Marseille take action

Nice mayor Eric Ciotti signed an order installing a curfew for minors in central Nice overnight. Marseille banned gatherings and demonstrations.

Lecornu blames far-left groups

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu blamed far-left groups for France's worst unrest in years, saying they wanted to cause profound unrest before the presidential election.

“There is, after all, a far-left movement that wants to cause, we can't put it any more strongly, profound unrest in the country in the run-up to the presidential election.”

Melenchon demands evidence

Hard-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon urged Lecornu to provide evidence or apologise and stop fanning the flames of unrest.

“Otherwise, he should apologise, keep quiet and stop fanning the flames of unrest.”

Scale of damage and arrests

Almost three thousand shops were affected over the weekend. Some two thousand four hundred people were arrested and nearly one thousand police officers were injured.

Mayors say cities left unprotected

The mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon said for the first time whole sections of their cities had been left without protection during Saturday's violence.

“But on Saturday ... for the first time, we had the feeling that whole sections of our cities had been left without protection.”

Government response and next steps

Macron rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nunez's resignation offer but demanded he end barricades and looting. French unions called for new strikes and rallies on November five.