Macron warns protest 'battle scenes' could hurt France's image

French President Emmanuel Macron warned his cabinet ministers on Monday that the weekend's "battle scenes" involving anti-tax protesters in Paris could impact investor sentiment and that the government should respond, the government spokesman said.

Police fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands of protesters who trashed restaurants and shopfronts and set wheelie bins ablaze on the elegant Champs Elysees on Saturday, the second consecutive weekend of demonstrations.