The French government has seen protests against its unpopular reform of the pension system escalate in recent days, with uncollected garbage set on fire in Paris and clashes against riot police in other major cities. Unions have called another day of strikes on Tuesday.
The government said it is necessary to keep the system from slipping into deficit and to bring France in line with its European neighbours, where the legal retirement age is typically higher.
Protests have broken out in various parts of France this week as the government pushed through a reform increasing the pension age. The government says the changes are needed to avoid crippling deficits in the coming decades linked to France s ageing population.
Cars were set ablaze as violent protests erupted in the French capital Paris days after an attack on Kurdish community by a 69-year-old man. Three people were killed and three others were injured in the Paris shooting on Friday.
Streets in Paris resembled war-zone as violent protests in the French capital escalated on Sunday after the shooter who had killed three Kurdish migrants Friday was released from the prion.