Europe

Police brace for driver protests in Paris, around France

Associated Press
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A protester is dragged away and arrested by a police officer after she was seen with others blocking the traffic in Sainte Marie, while protesting against the rising of the fuel and oil prices, in the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018. France is deploying soldiers to stem violence in the Indian Ocean island of Reunion after protests over fuel tax hikes degenerated into looting and rioting. (AP Photo/Fabrice Wislez)

Stranded vehicles stand in a line as protesters, called the "yellow Jackets", block a crossroads to protest against the rising of the fuel and oil prices, in Fos-sur-Mer, southern France, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. The protests reflect broader frustration at President Emmanuel Macron, whose government is sticking to the fuel tax rise as part of efforts to clean up the environment. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)

France is deploying thousands of police to try to contain nationwide protests and road blockades by drivers angry over rising fuel taxes and Emmanuel Macron's presidency.

Tensions have been mounting around the grassroots movement that drew more than a quarter million people a week ago to protests across France, from Provence to Normandy and in between.

A new wave of protests is planned Saturday, including beneath the Eiffel Tower. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner called for calm and promised tough police measures against unruly crowds.

Paris alone is deploying some 3,000 security forces, notably around tourist-frequented areas like the Champs-Elysees, after an unauthorized attempt last week to march on the presidential palace.

Two people have been killed and hundreds injured in the week of protests, which are posing a big challenge to Macron.

Authorities are struggling because the movement has no clear leader and has attracted a motley group of people with broadly varying demands. The protesters call themselves the "yellow jackets" for the neon security vests that drivers are required to keep in their vehicles.

A man caused a dramatic standoff with police Friday when he donned a neon vest and brandished an apparent grenade at a supermarket in the western city of Angers. He was later arrested.

Most of the protesters' anger is focused at Macron, a pro-business centrist accused of indifference to the struggles of ordinary people.

Macron has defended the fuel taxes as necessary to reduce France's dependence on fossil fuels, but promised to lay out new plans Tuesday to make the "energy transition" easier.