Violent Paris protests pressure Hollande

Demonstrators hold a banner which reads "Hollande Resign", as several thousand people attend the "Journee de la Colere" (Day of Anger) march in protest against French President Francois Hollande's leadership in Paris. Picture: Philippe Wojazer

Demonstrators hold a banner which reads "Hollande Resign", as several thousand people attend the "Journee de la Colere" (Day of Anger) march in protest against French President Francois Hollande's leadership in Paris. Picture: Philippe Wojazer

Published Jan 27, 2014

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Paris -

French police say 19 officers were injured and 250 people detained after a protest against President Francois Hollande's leadership degenerated into violence in Paris.

Police said on Monday that none of the injuries is critical. The number of detentions is high compared with other protests in recent weeks expressing discontent with Hollande, who is particularly unpopular for his handling of the economy.

Police say 17 000 people took part in Sunday's largely peaceful protest, while organisers put the number several times higher.

Fifty associations were involved, including conservative and far right groups.

Also present were supporters of provocateur-comic Dieudonne, who has been repeatedly convicted of anti-Semitism and racism. - Sapa-AP

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