“Yellow vest” protesters plan rallies in Paris

“Yellow Vest” demonstrators are planning rallies in several French capital on Saturday for their tenth consecutive weekend of protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s government.

Protesters started to assemble by the Champs Elysees and the Invalides esplanade near the Assemblee Nationale lower house of parliament and the Eiffel Tower, with their numbers expected to increase during the day.

The march is called to honor hundreds injured since the movement kicked off on November 17. Ten people have been killed in protest-related traffic accidents.

Paris is deploying 5,000 police around the capital, notably around government buildings and the Champs-Elysees, stage of recent violence. Thousands of other police are fanned out nationwide.

Saturday marks the 10th straight weekend of yellow vest protests and will test whether Macron's debate is diminishing the movement's momentum. The protests started over fuel taxes but became a broader revolt against economic problems.

Protests so far this month have not had the same level of trouble, although images of a former French boxing champion punching and kicking police during a demonstration this month in Paris shocked much of France.

Macron has launched a series of national debates to help quell the mood of public discontent and restore his standing.