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In pictures and slogans: Thousands of protesters take to streets across France

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In pictures and slogans: Thousands of protesters take to streets across France
Protesters take cover behind their banner from a police water cannon in Paris. Photo: AFP

Thousands of protesters took to the streets across France on Thursday to voice their anger at lash out at President Emmanuel Macron's string of reforms. Here's what happened in images and slogans.

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A wave of industrial action hit France on Thursday with rail and public service strikes causing headaches for commuters and passengers.

And the action wasn't limited to the French capital, with street protests planned in 140 different towns and cities across the country. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly ugly scenes broke out during some of the protests and many strikers had brought placards displaying harsh words for French President Emmanuel Macron.  

Here's our selection of images and slogans that illustrate the events of the day. 

Paris 

Photo: AFP

Marseille

Photo: AFP

Bordeaux

Photo: AFP

Violence flared in Paris and Nantes in Western France. 

The image below shows police using water canons against demonstrators in Paris. 

Photo: AFP

The inside of a car burns on the sidelines of the demonstration in Paris. 

Photo: AFP

The image below shows riot police in Nantes shielding themselves from smoke bombs. 

Photo: AFP

Many demonstrators saw the protests as a chance to get their message across to Macron in their own words. 

The message below read "Macron the SNCF belongs to the French people."

A woman holds a placard, reading "If you think that education costs too much, try ignorance". Photo: AFP

A woman holds a placard reading in French "I ran faster in 68 but I shout louder now" referring to the famous protests that took place France in May 1968. Photo: AFP

 Demonstrators hold a banner saying, 'Hello Jupitir? This is Earth' referring to Macron's comparison of his job to that of the Roman king of the gods Jupiter earlier in his presidency.  Photo: AFP

A man holds a sign in Nantes calling the government a "bunch of crooks". Photo: AFP

Photo: AFP

Photo: AFP

 

A young man with the word "work" written across his chest holds a sign saying "Macron killed me" in Paris. Photo: AFP

 A sign reads "Fewer public service workers equals a nation less united". 

Meanwhile the tweet below shows a workers holding a sign saying, "No, to the liquidation of public services."

Other demonstrators held a sign saying, "No need to count, we're all here". There has been much speculation in France over how many people would take to the streets tp support the protests. 

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