Paris protests: At least 158 arrested after demonstration turns violent

At least 158 people have been arrested after there were violent clashes between protestors and French police in Paris on Saturday. 

Riot police used tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades to quell protestors who attempted to breach security cordons on the Champs Elysees boulevard.

It was the third rally in as many weeks as people took to the streets to protest rising fuel taxes and Emmannuel Macron's government.

Macron said there had been 5,500 protesters in the capital and about 36,000 in total around the country.

Authorities said 65 people were injured during the demonstration, including 11 police officers.

Some protestors lit fires and threw rocks at the police, while images circulating on social media have shown cars that were on fire. 

"The scenes we watched this morning are intolerable," Mr Castaner wrote on Twitter. "The clear will to attack our police forces, our country's symbols, is an insult to the Republic."

The protest was organised by the "yellow vests" movement, which is a rebellion against diesel tax hikes and protestors wear high visibility jackets at the demonstrations.

Police said some of the arrests were made amid concerns violent far-right and far-left groups were infiltrating the movement.

There have now been three weeks of protests and demonstrations with roads being blocked across the country and calls for Macron to resign in one of his biggest challenges yet as president.