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Yellow vest protesters defy government after Strasbourg shooting

Thousands of protesters have been on the streets of France for the fifth weekend of demonstrations against the government.

The protests began as a way to voice anger over the rise in diesel tax but have since come to encompass people's frustration with the growing cost of living.

Security services had called for protesters to stay at home this weekend, as they prepared to focus on safety elsewhere after a shooting at Strasbourg's Christmas market that killed four people.

Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told CNews television on Friday: "Our security forces have been deployed extensively these past few weeks.

"It would be better if everyone could go about their business calmly on Saturday, before the year-end celebrations with their families, instead of demonstrating and putting our security forces to work once again."

However, some 66,000 still decided to protest across France, according to the interior ministry's count at 6pm.

This number is roughly half of last week's turnout .

Numbers may also have been affected by the weather, which was cold and rainy.

The interior minister said around 69,000 police were active across France on Saturday.

Police said there were still 148 arrests and small pockets of violence were reported.

Police used tear gas and water cannons in the afternoon to move groups of protesters on the Champs-Elysees and adjacent streets.

And the cold weather was not enough to stop a group of feminists from going topless as they faced off with security forces near the Elysee Palace, the president's residence.

There were also clashes reported in Nantes, western France, and the southern city of Bordeaux.

One protester, Pierre Lamy, a 27-year-old industrial worker, said: "We're here to represent all our friends and members of our family who can't come to protest, or because they're scared.

"Everything's coming up now," he said. "We're being bled dry."

French President Emmanuel Macron had called for calm on Friday and the French government had said on its Twitter account: "Protesting is not smashing our heritage.

"Protesting is not smashing our businesses... Protesting is not smashing our republic."

Previous weekends of protests had led to widespread vandalism, looting and violence.

Eight people have died overall, the latest on Friday evening. No details were given but it was suggested the death occurred at a traffic circle in the french countryside.

The government has responded by cancelling the fuel duty rise and this week Mr Macron bowed to protesters' demands by announcing a rise in the minimum wage by $100 (£90 a month).

The "yellow vest" movement started in November following a social media campaign which urged people to protest wearing the vests that must be carried in every vehicle in France.