33,500 ‘yellow vest’ protesters in France: ministry

France’s interior ministry said Saturday that the number of “yellow vest” protesters in France was estimated at 33,500 at midday, half the level of a week ago.

The ministry said 77,000 “yellow vests” -- named after the fluorescent jackets they wear -- had been counted at the same point last weekend.

Police in Paris said fewer than 3,000 had gathered in the capital for the fifth consecutive Saturday of demonstrations, which have so far been largely peaceful.

In the early afternoon, security forces fired teargas on the Champs-Elysees, the epicentre of the protests on previous weekends, as around 500 “yellow vests” gathered to denounce the government of President Emmanuel Macron.