France PM calls for partial curfews after violent weekend protests

France's Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has given local mayors the power to introduce partial curfews to protect people and shops after a weekend of riots and looting across the country.

Marseille - the country's second-largest city - has already banned public gatherings between 12:00 and 20:00.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, whose resignation offer was rejected by President Emmanuel Macron, earlier admitted police had "lost control" in some cities. More than 2,500 people were arrested, officials said. About 1,000 police officers were injured.

The disorder began last month with students demanding better school conditions, but protests have since escalated to take in a broader range of concerns.

Protesters were also hurt during clashes with police, with one demonstrator's hand blown off by a police crowd-control grenade, according to the AFP news agency.

Following a crisis meeting on Monday, the prime minister said local mayors were being given the power to implement curfews "where they need", without specifying which cities would be impacted.

Lecornu, who did not rule out imposing a state of emergency in the country, said the government would also set aside money to help affected areas recover from the damage, and the funding would be recovered from those behind the violence.

"There will be a law that will be put in place to find ways of making sure that those who have damaged properties will have to pay," the prime minister said.

He also announced a partial unemployment fund for those who could not work as a result of the riots and looting.

Meanwhile, Nuñez said some 200 investigators were analysing CCTV footage to try to identify possible ringleaders of the violent protests.

Nuñez attempted to resign on Sunday, but Macron refused "given the need for continued command of law enforcement", the Élysée Palace said.

More than 2,000 shops and other businesses have been directly impacted by the weekend's violence, the head of France's Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) says.

Alain Di Crescenzo told France's broadcaster RTL that damage from the riots was estimated at "hundreds of millions of euros".

Some 550,000 demonstrators took to the streets over the weekend for protests against rising fuel prices, the cost of living and deteriorating public services, including schools.

Groups of rioters, some dressed in black and wearing masks and balaclavas, were seen setting fire to cars and buildings and looting businesses in Paris, Marseille and other cities and smaller towns.

Tear gas and stun grenades were fired at hundreds of people in Paris on Sunday, according to the AFP, and bottles and rocks were hurled at police.

In the central city of Limoges, the ornate 19th Century city hall was gutted by a fire started by rioters on Saturday, its clock tower and roof collapsing as the flames took hold.

"It's awful and unbelievable," said a local resident who gave his name as Gerrard. "We are very sad and I think it will be a long time to put it back as it was before."

President Macron said on Sunday that a distinction must be drawn between the "legitimate demands" of peaceful protesters and "those who destroyed, smashed and looted".

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