PARIS — AFP has deployed reporters, photographers and video journalists in cities across France to document nationwide cost of living protests on Saturday.

Here is a round up of what they are witnessing as security forces seek to prevent a repeat of violence and looting that erupted on the sidelines of similar demonstrations last weekend.

‘Beating up a lot of people’

Police used tear gas and baton charged protesters at the end of the march at Porte de Vincennes on the eastern fringes of Paris.

“The police started moving towards everyone, telling them to get down and back off. They were just taking people down, you know, beating protesters,” said a student, David, who was shaking and bleeding from a gash on his face.

“They were moving really fast and beating up a lot of people. The one of the police officers threw a baton at my face. There was blood everywhere.”

Residents peering out their apartment windows in one classic, Haussmann style building hurriedly slammed them shut and retreated after police fired tear gas near the front door.