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Protests in Paris turned violent once again as masked and hooded demonstrators clashed against police officers. Some of those attending the third "yellow vest" rally in the French capital in two weeks physically engaged in running battles against the police by picking up and hurling crowd barriers and other projectiles on and around the world famous Champs Elysees boulevard. Others erected their own barricades and set them alight in some of the streets adjacent to the Champs Elysees.

French police said they had arrested more than 200 people while almost 100 were injured as protesters hurled projectiles at riot officers, burned cars and smashed shop fronts. And several hundred yellow vests sat down under the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Elysees, singing La Marseillaise, France's national anthem, and chanting, "Macron Resign!" Speaking after the G20 Summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said the wave of violence and vandalism in Paris could not be justified in any way and had nothing to do with a peaceful expression of legitimate anger. He told a news conference in Buenos Aires: "No cause justifies that security forces are attacked, shops pillaged, public or private buildings set on fire, pedestrians or journalists threatened or that the Arc de Triomphe is sullied." The iconic French monument was also vandalised, as it now presents a writing on the wall reading "yellow vest will triumph". Police tried to crush the riots using force, tear gas, water cannons and stun greanades. Shocking pictures show war-like scenes, with the air filled with smoke, barricades built in iconic areas and cars being burned down. READ MORE: 'He's not listening!’ Macron under fire as majority of French SUPPORT mass fuel protests

French police fired tear gas, stun grenades and water cannon against the 'yellow vest' protesters

Three policemen had been injured during the clashes, police spokeswoman Johanna Primevert said, amid concerns violent far-right and far-left groups were infiltrating the "yellow vests" movement. The movement is a spontaneous grassroots that initially saw people wearing yellow vests and take their outrage to the streets to protest against the announced fuel price rise, set to enter into force next year. But it quickly turned into a widespread riot against Emmanuel Macron's austerity policies, which many French people see as the main cause they can't no longer make their ends meet. People started gathering in central Paris this morning. In just a few hours, police estimated some 2,000 protesters were in the roads around the Champs, with rioters and peaceful protesters mixed together. Police unions said across France there were some 31,000 protesters and 582 blockages. On Saturday, some targeted the Arc de Triomphe and other monuments. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said: "I am shocked by the attacks on the symbols of France. "We are attached to dialogue, but also respect for the law." Other protesters smashed the windows of shops including branches of Chanel, Dior and Apple.

Protesters wrote 'yellow vests will triumph' on a wall of the Arc De Triumph

Sixty people had been arrested during the clashes, police said

Some 2,000 protesters were in the roads around the Champs by mid-morning today

Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux conceded the Elysee doesn't consider all those taking part to the rally violent demonstrators, as he told LCI television: "The thugs are a minority and have no place in these demonstrations." France's Deputy Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said security forces hoped to restore order in very quickly but were facing difficulties because the groups they were battling were mobile and well-prepared. He told told BFM television: "Security forces are facing extremely violent radical groups that are targeting institutions .. who are equipped, masked and are preventing security forces moving forward." But even prominent activists within the movement denounced the "absurd" violence. Among them there is Jacline Mouraud, who said: "What message do the yellow vests want to pass today? That we set France on fire, or find solutions? I find this violence absurd." However, many others believe this is the only way for French people to make their voices heard. READ MORE: France fuel protests: Violence flares up as Emmanuel Macron refuses to back down

The 'yellow vest' protesters started gathering in November

Three policemen and seven protesters had been injured during the riots

A retired yellow-vest protester said: "The government is not listening. Revolution cannot happen without violence." The so-called "gilets jaunes" are currently gathering in the French capital for the third time since the protests began in November. The protests come as Mr Macron is attending the G20 summit in Buenos Aires. This is not the first time French police officers receive the order to crush "yellow vest" protests with violence. Last month, Mr Macron promised France will be “inflexible” against those violently opposing to the government.

Police officers facing the protesters in Paris