France bans anti-government protests near parliament amid growing unrest

Paris police banned protests on Saturday at Place de la Concorde, near the National Assembly parliament building, after two evenings of clashes between demonstrators and riot police.

It said it was doing so "due to serious risks of disturbances to public order".

Police used teargas to try and clear the area. Sixty-one people were arrested, according to the police.

In the southeastern city of Lyon, demonstrators tried to break into a town hall and set fire to the building; 36 arrests were made.

France has seen eight days of nationwide protests and strike action since mid-January over a pension reform bill that would see the retirement age raised from 62 to 64 and an increase in the length of contributions.

The government says this is essential to ensure the pension system survives.

The unions do not agree, and polls show the vast majority of the French are also opposed.

More than eight out of 10 people are unhappy with that decision, and 65 percent want strikes and protests to continue.