French PM blames 'ultra-left' groups for weekend riots, promises 'massive' security deployment

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Tuesday accused ultra-left radical groups of forging an "insurrectionary plan" that led to violent rioting over the weekend on the sidelines of nationwide protests over the cost of living.

Read more Live: French govt plans 'massive' police operation, some military forces for Saturday's protests

Addressing a raucous session of parliament, Lecornu condemned "the planning, in certain locations, of an insurrectionary plan led by far-left and ultra-left fringe groups". He added that the authorities would not tolerate such groups "marching on the Elysée or Matignon", referring to the offices and residences of the president and premier in Paris.

Read more Anger at rising fuel prices bolsters Europe's far right as unrest sweeps France

France will ​deploy some military forces ​to reinforce police during protests slated for this coming ​Saturday, ‌Interior ⁠Minister Laurent Nunez said.

"We ‌will deploy the Sentinelle ⁠force, obviously as a substitute to interior ​security forces ... mostly ‌to free police and gendarmes in their mission ‌to maintain order," Nunez ​told the National Assembly.

Read more 'Like we had a war': France left reeling after nationwide violent protests

Lecornu said police deployment ​for Satuday's ​demonstrations would be "massive" and that ​his goal was for an "immediate return to order".

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)