Clashes in Paris as hundreds of thousands across France march against plan to raise retirement age

Tear gas used at edges of march through the capital as projectiles hurled at police lines

Demonstrators protect themselves near riot police officers in Paris (Lewis Joly/AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to press ahead with unpopular pension reforms that will raise the country's retirement age to 64, despite massive protests that involved clashes with police in Paris.

Hundreds of thousands took part in rallies across the country, according to combined police estimates. Police fired tear gas on the fringes of the Paris protest when black-clad, masked individuals in hoodies hurled projectiles at their lines. About 20 people were arrested, BFM TV said, quoting police.

"It's salaries and pensions that must be increased, not the retirement age," read one large banner carried by workers that opened the protest march in Tours, in western France.