The French government on Saturday estimated that 320,000 people participated in nationwide protests against rising living costs and government policies, as demonstrations entered their third consecutive weekend.Fresh clashes broke out between police and protesters in Paris, where some demonstrators hurled paving stones and an incendiary device at security forces, prompting officers to fire tear gas, AFP reported.Tensions also flared in Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with police using tear gas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators. However, a coalition of youth organisations and student unions put the nationwide turnout at nearly 500,000, including 200,000 in Paris, significantly higher than the government’s estimate of 70,000 in the French capital.The government had deployed around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide to manage the demonstrations and prevent further violence.Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had warned ahead of the protests that authorities faced a high risk of public disorder, particularly from groups seeking to turn demonstrations violent.The demonstrations also saw participants dressed as clowns and witches, reflecting the Halloween theme of Saturday’s protests. Despite the largely peaceful nature of the marches, the fresh confrontations raised concerns over further violence during the nationwide mobilisation.The protests are driven by growing public anger over rising living costs, declining purchasing power, strained public services and dissatisfaction with government policies.What began as a student-led movement over poor school conditions, overcrowded classrooms and inadequate educational resources has expanded into a wider mobilisation involving trade unions, Yellow Vest activists and other groups.The demonstrations have also brought together people protesting against rising food, housing and fuel costs, as well as concerns over economic inequality and police violence.