Riot police unleash tear gas on French protesters (VIDEOS)

French riot police have clashed with protesters across the country, firing tear gas and charging crowds as another wave of anti-government demonstrations swept through major cities on Saturday.

RT correspondent Yasin Eken witnessed the confrontation unfold in Paris’s Place de la Nation, reporting live as riot police moved in to disperse protesters.

“Up until this point, the protests have been largely peaceful, largely quiet,” Eken reported, describing how tensions escalated after several small fires broke out and police intervened. “Ever since then, it’s just been a constant back and forth between protesters and police.”

The square soon descended into chaos, with officers deploying tear gas and what Eken described as acoustic weapons, while demonstrators hurled rocks, bottles and other projectiles. As police reinforcements advanced from different sides of the square, Eken was forced to put on his gas mask and retreat.

Police claimed around 200 violent individuals attacked officers during the arrest of a man accused of setting fire to a rubbish bin. Some demonstrators reportedly threw projectiles and fireworks at security forces.

Saturday marked the fourth consecutive weekend of mass protests over living costs, wages and deteriorating conditions in schools. Organizers estimated nationwide turnout at 250,000, while the Interior Ministry counted 146,000, including 46,000 in Paris.

Clashes also broke out in several other cities. In Lyon, police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators at an unauthorized gathering. In Montpellier, officers charged protesters amid reports of barricades, while water cannons and tear gas were deployed in Marseille.

At least 360 people were arrested nationwide, as authorities mobilized some 70,000 police and gendarmes, supported by armored vehicles, water cannons and surveillance drones. Nearly 40,000 people were subjected to preventive checks on roads and at railway stations.

The demonstrations began with student protests in late September before spreading into a broader movement involving trade unions and workers demanding higher wages and relief from rising prices.

READ MORE: 600,000 hit French streets in growing protests against Macron’s policies (VIDEO)

The protests have since repeatedly descended into arson, looting and vandalism, sparking a political blame game. Some conservative critics have pointed fingers at migrants, while Macron’s government and police have faced accusations of failing to protect local businesses from looters.

At a parliamentary hearing this week, shopkeepers said they had been “completely abandoned and sacrificed” during the October 17 riots, which saw more than 3,000 businesses attacked or vandalized, causing over €600 million in direct damage. The authorities subsequently advised businesses to hire private security guards, drawing further criticism.

The latest unrest comes ahead of next year’s presidential election, with Macron’s government facing continued public anger. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is expected to meet union leaders and employers on Monday to discuss wages and purchasing power.