Paris police have fired tear gas on taxi drivers trying to march onto a major highway, amid nationwide French strikes and protests over working conditions and competition from non-traditional services such as Uber, called VTC services in France.
Hundreds of French taxis, joined by a few from Belgium and Spain, blocked a massive intersection leading into western Paris, causing disruption throughout surrounding avenues.
Dozens of taxi drivers tried to march from the Porte Maillot intersection onto an eight-lane bypass, but police pushed them back with tear gas.
Some drivers set pre-dawn bonfires put out by firefighters on Tuesday morning.
Traditional taxi drivers are protesting over what they consider unfair competition from Uber, which has faced a string of legal challenges in France.
Taxi drivers block the traffic during a demonstration against the VTC on January 26, 2016 at porte Maillot in Paris. Source: Getty Images
Previous protests have also turned violent.
The drivers joined teachers and other public servants in nationwide strikes and demonstrations.
The banner reads : "VTC's deletion. Compensation for taxi drivers". Source: Getty Images
Air traffic controllers are also on strike, and the civil aviation authority forecast 20 per cent of flights would be cancelled on Tuesday.
Public servants are angry over a range of issues including pay, education reforms and working conditions.
