Clashes at Paris May Day rally as demonstrators protest labour reforms

 Police fired tear gas after protesters hurled bottles and other projectiles during a May Day rally in Paris Sunday, where controversial labour reforms were the main focus of demonstrations.

•     Tens of thousands of demonstrators took part in the march in the French capital amid a heightened police presence after several recent protests against labour reforms ended in violence.
•     There were ugly scenes as a small group of protesters in balaclavas hurled projectiles at the security forces, who responded with volleys of tear gas, bringing the march to a standstill.
•     Calm was later restored, however, and the majority of those taking part in the demonstration did so peacefully.
•     Police said between 16,000 and 17,000 people took part in the rally and Paris. The CGT union put the figure at 70,000.
•     Rallies in other French cities including Nantes, Bordeaux and Marseille passed largely without incident earlier Sunday.
•     A May Day rally held by Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Front party was crashed by a group of topless Femen protesters.