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143 arrested in Paris protests after first-round election

By Andrew V. Pestano
French riot police stand guard on the Place de la République public square in Paris as remaining few protesters leave after a few skirmishes erupted following the results of the first round of the French presidential elections Sunday. France will hold the second round of the presidential elections on May 7. Photo by Etienne Laurent/EPA
1 of 4 | French riot police stand guard on the Place de la République public square in Paris as remaining few protesters leave after a few skirmishes erupted following the results of the first round of the French presidential elections Sunday. France will hold the second round of the presidential elections on May 7. Photo by Etienne Laurent/EPA

April 24 (UPI) -- France's National Police said it arrested 143 people after protesters unhappy with the first round of the presidential election took to the streets, some damaging property.

Hundreds participated Sunday night in "anti-fascist, anti-capitalist" protests in Paris opposing the final two candidates for the presidential runoff. Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen will face each other in the runoff election on May 7.

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Police said some protesters threw bottles at security forces, set cars on fire and broke store windows. Six police officers and three protesters were injured, France 24 reported. Police said they detained 29 people overnight.

Macron, a former banker and centrist independent, is favored to win the runoff election over Le Pen, a far-right populist leader.

France's Interior Ministry said Macron secured 23.8 percent of votes compared to Le Pen's 21.5 percent with 97 percent of votes counted. Turnout for the vote was nearly 79 percent.

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