President Macron was criticised across France yesterday after he ordered the army on to the streets to help police tackle yellow-vest protesters.

Up to 7,000 soldiers armed with assault rifles will guard public buildings in Paris and other cities tomorrow, allowing riot police to confront the anti-government gilets jaunes.

The deployment comes as the government tries to stamp out the weekly urban guerrilla insurrections that have ravaged Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse and other towns since November.

Critics warned, however, that sending the army into a major social conflict was a perilous step. Ministers said that the troops had orders to avoid any contact and call the police should the site they are guarding come under attack from violent demonstrators.

Officials were unable to say whether they