Mass protests in France have spiralled into riots, with between 500,000 and 800,000 demonstrators in cities and towns across the country, most of them students. More than 100 police and many more protesters have been injured and up to 2,000 people have so far been arrested.
Major public buildings – such as the town hall in Limoges and the historic tourist office in Lyon – were destroyed, while other public buildings were damaged and hundreds of shops were looted by small groups of mainly young men.
