[Published: Monday December 10 2018]
 French president Macron to hold crisis meeting
PARIS 10 Dec (ANA) - French President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet trade unions and employers' organisations, in a bid to defuse weeks of unrest in Paris and other cities.
Monday's meeting comes ahead of a TV address in which he is expected to announce measures in response.
France has seen four weekends of violent protests against fuel tax rises, living costs and other issues.
About 136,000 "yellow-vest" protesters took to the streets on Saturday. More than 1,200 were taken into custody.
The capital Paris was particularly badly hit, with windows smashed, cars burned and shops looted, as 10,000 people took part in demonstrations.
Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire described the situation as a "catastrophe for businesses" and the economy.
Protesters have staged demonstrations and road blocks across the country over the past four weekends.
At 10:00 local time (09:00 GMT) on Monday, he will meet representatives of five major trade unions and three employers' organisations, as well as local officials.
Correspondents say that the yellow vests are an organic grassroots movement with no affiliations to any party, but some trade unions have taken up their cause and encouraged the government to listen to their grievances.
Le Figaro newspaper reports that Prime Minister Édouard Philippe and nine government ministers will also be present at Mr Macron's meeting.
Mr Macron will then address the nation at 20:00 the same day.
Labour Minister Muriel Penicaud said he would announce "immediate and concrete measures" in response to the crisis.
Mr Macron has kept a low profile so far during the protests. Many of the protesters have called for his resignation.
He has been criticised for being out of touch and not listening to the struggles of ordinary people.
Last week, following talks with representatives of the yellow-vest movement, the government announced it was abandoning the fuel taxes that have angered the protesters.
But this failed to placate them and on Saturday they turned out in similar numbers to last week's demonstration.(ANA)
FA/ANA/10 December 2018---------
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