PARIS : ''POLICE -MASKED HOODED- PROTESTERS''

PARIS : Dozens of masked and hooded anarchists clashed with riot police in southern Paris on Wednesday.

Burning bins, smashing property and hurling projectiles - effectively hijacking a May Day rally that was focused on protest against Emmanuel Macron's policies.

Tens of thousands of labour union and ''yellow vest'' protesters were on on the streets across France, days after Mr. Macron outlined a  a response to months of street protests including tax cuts worth of  around 5 billion euros [$ 5.6 billion].

In Paris, riot police used tear gas and water cannon, and charged sporadically at several points along the traditional International Workers Day rally to disperse groups of masked protesters who had immersed themselves in the crowd.

Some 7,400 police personel were deployed and they made 200 arrests. Several people were lightly wounded, police sources said.

The main march crossing the southern part of the capital was finally able to move amid relative calm after being prevented from setting off by the clashes, although it appeared that yellow vests and more radical elements rather than labour unions were dominating the march. [Reuters]