1.
GV Demonstrators walk along bank of Seine
0.05

2.
GV Demonstrators gathered around ballast heaps
0.08

3.
MV Demonstrators with young trees
0.14

4.
CU Placards (2 shots)
0.21

5.
GV & MV Demonstrators gather on heaps (3 shots)
0.34

6.
CU Demonstrators plant tree
0.40

7.
GTV Demonstrators on river bank
0.45

8.
SV Riot police (2 shots)
0.51

9.
SV Demonstrators jeer
0.54

10.
MV Demonstrator by lamp-post
0.56

11.
SV Demonstrators walk past police
1.02

12.
SV Demonstrators break ranks and are charged by police (4 shots)
1.15

13.
SV Police move in to area
1.20



Initials BB/0440 JH/GS/BB/0431



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Several hundred opponents of pollution staged a demonstration in Paris on Saturday (June 10). The marchers gathered along the Left Bank of the Seine to express their opposition to a motorway which will run along the river side when it's finally completed.

Several of the demonstrators carried small young trees which they planted next to large heaps of gravel which are the result of initial work on the motorway.

As the demonstration continued, a contingent of riot police reached the scene. When the demonstrators broke ranks, the police charged, some swinging their batons. But there were no reports of injuries or arrests.

The demonstration, organised by a group calling itself the Revolutionary Ecological Movement, also called for a ban on all cars in Paris and increased public transport services. The protestors also demanded that the city give one million bicycles to Paris residents to ease the problem of pollution.

SYNOPSIS: Several hundred demonstrators gathered along the Left Bank of the Seine in Paris on Saturday to protest the construction of a new motorway to run along the river side.

The demonstration was organised by a group calling itself the Revolutionary Ecological Movement. The protestors gathered by hugs heaps of gravel which are the result of initial work on the new motorway.

Some of the protestors planted small young trees in the shadow of the gravel heaps.

The demonstrators also called for a ban on all private cars in Paris.

A contingent of riot police was on hand.

The demonstrators jeered at the police, but initially, there was no trouble. The protestors also wanted increased public transport services and a million bicycles for Paris residents to reduce pollution. In April, the organisers of the demonstration called for a "Day of Bicycles" in which 10,000 cyclists staged an anti-pollution protest. But Saturday, police charged when the demonstrators broke ranks.

There were no reports of arrests or injuries in Saturday's demonstration.