Paris has been hit with a second day of riots as thousands hit the streets to protest against the introduction of gay marriage in France.<\/p>\n
Since yesterday, 293 people have been arrested, with 231 of those charged with public order offences.<\/p>\n
Most of the trouble started on Sunday night, following a mass rally in the centre of the city which attracted around 150,000 people.<\/p>\n
The worst clashes were between CRS riot police and hooded right-wing \u2018ultras\u2019 around famous monuments including Les Invalides, where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried.<\/p>\n
\u2018Traditional France has been threatened by these new measures and that\u2019s why we have taken to the streets,\u2019 said Jerome Martin, a 23-year-old protester.<\/p>\n
Mr Martin spoke as hundreds threw rocks and smoke bombs at the police, who responded with tear gas and baton charges.<\/p>\n
There were numerous injuries on both sides, with the worst fights breaking out on the grass esplanade opposite Les Invalides, and in surrounding streets.<\/p>\n
Journalists were also attacked, with at least two seriously injured.<\/p>\n
The area is next door to the French parliament, where President Francois Hollande\u2019s Socialist government introduced and then passed the gay marriage bill.<\/p>\n
It meant that France became the 14th country in the world to allow same sex unions.<\/p>\n
The protests, which are strongly backed by the Roman Catholic Church, have become a chance for the French right to rally against the left.<\/p>\n
Interior Minister Manuel Valls said some 100 known far-right protesters were among those arrested in the early hours of Monday.<\/p>\n
Some 4,500 police officers were on duty in Paris on Sunday to deal with the huge crowds.<\/p>\n
France\u2019s first gay wedding is due to take place on Wednesday in Montpellier, in the south of the country.<\/p>\n
Despite the violent rally, a survey published on Sunday showed 53 per cent of French people support gay marriage and adoption.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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