France rocked by violence as 550,000 protest rising prices, school crisis

Paris, Oct 18 (UNI) Nationwide demonstrations against rising prices and failing schools turned violent in France as government buildings were set ablaze, shops were looted, and police say they detained about 1,200 people. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez estimated that around 550,000 people took part in demonstrations nationwide, including 110,000 in Paris, while the CGT, France's largest trade union has put the turnout at 800,000. The marches began largely peacefully but descended into violence in several cities as masked youths set fire to vehicles, ransacked businesses and clashed with police. Officers fired tear gas and used water cannon to disperse crowds…