France prohibits Yellow Vest protests for this weekend

Police on Thursday said that the 'Yellow Vest' protests this weekend have been banned in the cities of Paris and Lille.

Police in Paris said that the demonstrators, who are participating in the protests, will be barred from the areas of French National Assembly and Elysee Palace, Anadolu News Agency reported.

In Lille, Yellow Vest protests will be prohibited in the central parts of the city, after a decree was signed by Michel Lalande, prefect of regional daily La Voix du Nord from northern France.

Widespread agitations have been raging on across France since November last year against the hike in fuel prices, with thousands of protesters taking to the streets and donning the 'gilets jaunes', the yellow fluorescent vests that have symbolised the movement.

The French government has since rolled back its plan to increase fuel taxes, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing a minimum wage hike of 100 euros per month for the people of the nation in his "economic and social emergency plan".

However, the demonstrators have continued with their protests, which has continued for 21 straight weekends now. There have been calls of Macron's resignation over his move.

The Yellow Vest protests have claimed the lives of 11 people and left over 2,000 wounded, according to the French government.

More than 8,000 people have been arrested since the demonstrations began and 2,000 others were sent to custody.