France: 65,000-strong police force to be bolstered across France - PM Philippe

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe pledged "exceptional" nation-wide security measures on Thursday, speaking at the French Senate in Paris ahead of next Saturday's planned protests.

Philippe said the government is planning to deploy additional officers across the country, amid fears that "troublemakers" will take to the streets again, after days of violence and clashes with the police.

The prime minister also confirmed that the government will scrap the proposed fuel tax, in order to preserve social peace.

The fiscal measure, which triggered the "yellow vests" protest over the past weeks, was due to come into effect on January 1, 2019.