As many as 3,000 police officers and gendarms will be mobilized to ensure the public order during the "yellow-vest" protests against fuel prices hike in Paris on Saturday, media reported.
According to France's LCI TV channel, a total of 63 mobile police units will be put on alert in the French capital.
The RTL radio station, in turn, reported that protesters are considering nine possible sites for the mass actions' holding, including Champ de Mars, Place de la Concorde and Avenue des Champs-Elysees.
Last Saturday, mass protests, named "yellow vest" after the obligatory attribute of French drivers — a yellow light-reflective vest — sparked in Paris and then escalated into large-scale violent protests across the country and its overseas territories. The mass actions, which were supposed to be a one-day event staged by the drivers against fuel prices rise, saw some 400 people injured during the first day alone. The demonstrations continued through the week, turning violent on the island of Reunion, France's overseas department, where about 30 security officers have been injured and 109 activists have been arrested in the five days of manifestations.
In late 2017, the French government approved the decision to raise direct tax on diesel fuel, which is the most popular type of fuel in the country. The diesel prices in France have risen by around 23 percent since the beginning of the year, while the gasoline prices have gone up by 15 percent. Prices are set to increase further in January.
