President Emmanuel Macron of France warned that “war scenes” on the Champs-Elysées last weekend aired by the world’s media risked tarnishing the country’s rising reputation abroad.

His words came two days after barricades were torched, traffic lights felled and luxury shop windows smashed on the “world’s most famous avenue” in Paris as violence by fringe groups marred larger anti-government protests around the country.

Luxury brand Dior said it was filing a legal complaint against persons unknown for an estimated million euros in damage it sustained by the rioters on the Champs-Elysées, where police fired over 5,000 tear gas grenades in running battles with so-called “yellow jacket” protesters who lit dozens of fires.

"One shouldn't underestimate the shock to people, in France and abroad, of seeing in the media what looked like war scenes," Mr Macron was quoted as saying during a cabinet meeting.

Dozens of the 101 people detained faced expedited trials on Monday.

The government has blamed "ultra-right" agitators for much of the violence in Paris. Budget minister Gerald Darmanin even branded troublemakers "the brown plague” in a controversial allusion to the Nazis.

The "yellow vests" announced on Monday that they were setting up an official eight-person delegation to negotiate with the government.