French PM preparing to suspend fuel tax increases

PARIS, Dec 4 (MENA) - French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe is preparing to suspend planned tax increases on fuel, according to a government source.

A turnaround in the decision would follow a weekend of violent protests in Paris that led to hundreds of arrests and almost 100 people injured. Until now, French President Emmanuel Macron has been reluctant to suspend the price hikes, tweeting on Saturday that the protests were "nothing to do with the peaceful expression of legitimate anger," euro news reported.

France has been hit by three weeks of protests from the 'gilet jaunes' (yellow vests) movement, which was originally launched as a response to the fuel price increases, and has since turned into a wider protest over social inequalities.