Unrest in Paris forces closure of at least 19 metro stations

Two people are confirmed dead and dozens injured as Macron government fails to negotiate with protesters

PARIS: At least 19 metro stations in central Paris were closed on Saturday as violent clashes between “yellow vest” protesters and riot police spread across the French capital as night fell, BFM TV reported.

Among the stations shut down were Etoile, at the top of the Champs Elysee boulevard, Opera and Bastille.

The "yellow vest" movement erupted on social media in October and has since become a wider protest against Macron, who is accused of failing to recognise the rising cost of living that has left many struggling.

The countrywide protests have included many pensioners and have been most active in small urban and rural areas where demonstrators blocked roads, closed motorway toll booths, and even walled up the entrance to tax offices.

Two people have died and dozens have been injured in the protests, which opinion polls suggest still attract the support of two out of three French people.

Attempts by the government to negotiate with the grassroots movement have failed, in large part because representatives have insisted on public talks broadcast on TV.

"We want our dignity back and we want to be able to live from our work, which is absolutely not the case today," Jason Herbert said after walking out of talks with Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Friday.

Macron has sought to douse the anger by promising three months of nationwide talks on how best to transform France into a low-carbon economy without penalising the poor.

He also vowed to slow the rate of increase in fuel taxes if international oil prices rise too rapidly but only after a tax hike due in January.

But many protesters were unconvinced by Macron's speech on Tuesday.

"For two weeks we've been trying to make ourselves heard but nothing has changed," said Gaetan Kerr, a 52-year-old farmer from the Yonne region, said near the Champs-Elysees on Saturday.

"At some point Macron is going to have to listen, otherwise this is going to get worse and worse."