France bans protests in Lyon, restricts Paris march after cost-of-living riots

French authorities banned all protests in Lyon on Saturday and confined a planned Paris march to the east of the capital, after clashes last weekend left the government admitting police had lost control.

President Emmanuel Macron chaired a meeting of key ministers and intelligence officials on Thursday, saying the priority was "a return to calm" and that he would chair a further defence council meeting on Friday to decide next steps. He said the worst violence "was led by organised ultra-left groups aiming to bring down the republic."

More than half a million people had demonstrated on 17 October against the surging cost of living. Rioting on the margins saw 200 to 300 shops looted in Lyon alone, and a tourist office torched, which the city's mayor described as hours of "chaos". Other cities imposing protest bans or city-centre restrictions included Grenoble, Rouen, Le Havre and Toulon.

In Paris, police said Saturday's march could proceed from Bastille but was barred from entering the city centre. The Yellow Vest movement organising the cost-of-living rallies said it would not accept the order. A student protest in Paris on Thursday went ahead after a court injunction overturned a police ban.

Macron said bans would cover "groups without legitimacy" and that curfews and other security measures would follow. The interior ministry said 20 percent more police would be deployed this Saturday than last weekend.

Art Basel Paris announced it would close two days early because of the protests.