Rioting across France eases amid huge police presence

Rioting across France was less intense overnight, the interior ministry said on Sunday, as tens of thousands of police were deployed in cities across the country after the funeral of a teenager of North African descent, whose shooting by police sparked nationwide unrest.

President Emmanuel Macron postponed a state visit to Germany that was due to begin on Sunday to handle the worst crisis of his leadership since the "Yellow Vest" protests paralysed much of France in late 2018.

He was due to meet his ministers on Sunday evening to review the situation, the presidency said.

About 45,000 police officers were again on the streets on Saturday night, with reinforcements going to the three largest cities, Paris, Lyon and Marseille.

The biggest flashpoint was in Marseille, where police fired tear gas and fought street battles with youth around the city centre late into the night.

In Paris, police cleared protesters from the Place de la Concorde and increased security at the city's landmark Champs Elysees Avenue after a call on social media to gather there.

TV images showed shop facades covered with boards to prevent potential damage.

The interior ministry said 719 people were arrested on Saturday night, fewer than the 1,311 the previous night and 875 on Thursday night.

Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said it was too early to say that the unrest had been quashed. "There was evidently less damage, but we will remain mobilised in the coming days. We are very focused, nobody is claiming victory," Mr Nunez said.