'Anti-fascist' protesters clash with Paris police in riot after Marine Le Pen French presidential success
Police clashed with left-wing demonstrators in Paris on Sunday shortly after projections from the France's presidential elections showed far-right leader Marine Le Pen had made it to a runoff vote.
Police moved in on the demonstrators, some of whom threw bottles and firecrackers, an AFP journalist saw. Three people were arrested, according to police.
Several hundred young people rallied in the Bastille square - the historic site where the 1789 French Revolution began - after projections suggested Le Pen would contest the second round against Emmanuel Macron, a centrist and former banker.
Protesters waved red flags and sung "No Marine and No Macron!" in anger at the results of Sunday's first-round presidential election.
A protest leader called on the public through a loudspeaker to rally "against Marine and against Macron." "We have come here to protest against the pantomime of this election," a demonstrator told AFP.
Another "anti-fascist demonstration" also took place late Sunday in the western coastal city of Nantes.
Le Pen's father, Jean-Marie, scored the first breakthrough in the French presidential elections by the National Front, winning a slot in the runoff in the 2002 ballot.
He was routed in a head-to-head contest by the centre-right incumbent, Jacques Chirac.
Later, around 300 people gathered at a peaceful protest at nearby Place de la Republique, waving red flags and dancing around the flames of a bonfire.
Some sang "Now burn your electoral cards" or "No Marine and No Macron!," referring to centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who topped the first-round vote and advance to the May 7 runoff.
