PARIS 21 Apr (ANA) - Clashes have broken out between Yellow Vest protesters and police in the French capital, Paris, as demonstrators took to the streets for a 23rd week of marches against economic inequality and President Emmanuel Macron's government. 

Dozens of black-hooded demonstrators threw rocks at police and some set fire to motorbikes and rubbish cans along the march route on Saturday, prompting the police to use water cannon, stun grenades and tear gas. 

Paris police said authorities detained 137 people by early afternoon and carried out spot checks on more than 14,000 people trying to enter the capital for the protests.

As of 12:00 GMT on Saturday, a total of 9,600 people were demonstrating across France, including 6,700 in the capital, the interior ministry said.

This is more than last week's protest, which drew 7,500 demonstrators, but represents only a fraction of the record 282,000 estimated on the first day of protests on November 17.

The demonstrations originally began over fuel price increases and high cost of living, but spiralled into a broader movement against Macron and his economic policies, which protesters say favour the wealthy and big business at the expense of ordinary workers.

The protest movement is largely peaceful, but some protesters have attacked monuments, shops and banks and clashed with police in previous weeks.(ANA) 

FA/ANA/21 April 2019------