France protests: 166 arrested as police clash with demonstrators nationwide

Paris, Oct 17 (UNI) French police have arrested 166 people nationwide during protests over the cost of living, rising fuel prices and public services, as officers deployed tear gas to disperse crowds in Paris and other cities, authorities said on Saturday. The French Interior Ministry said 140 separate protest actions involving nearly 33,000 people had been recorded across the country. More than 100 people had earlier been detained in the Paris region, according to local media reports. Police fired tear gas at Place de la République in Paris ahead of a planned march, with officers charging into crowds as some…