France vows 'massive' security operation involving military forces for expected weekend protests

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced a major police presence will be deployed on the country's streets this weekend amid further expected protests. France has seen weeks of unrest and a show of anger against grievances including rising cost of living and conditions of France's education system. Last weekend, demonstrations escalated into violence as marches were hijacked by groups of masked rioters who started fires, smashed storefronts and looted shops. French authorities announced partial curfews on Monday, banning public gatherings in some areas of Paris and other cities after 9 p.m. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said some military forces would be deployed on static, guarding duties to free up police for the expected demonstrations. He added that he was also considering banning demonstrations that have not been declared and could lead to public disorder. In a country with strong protest culture, rioting is not uncommon and is often sparked as a response to police violence, some experts say. Government critics and human rights campaigners have alleged that police tactics in the last month have been unnecessarily violent. Much of the criticism focuses on rubber bullet launchers, known in France as LBDs, and stun grenades, which critics blame for serious injuries to protesters.