SAINT-DENIS, France: Saint-Denis Mayor Bally Bagayoko has defended student protesters after a video showing him confronting police during a Paris demonstration went viral.
Bagayoko, a member of the left-wing France Unbowed party, said he stood between police and young protesters on Tuesday to prevent officers from charging at them.
He told Reuters that many of the students had shown no aggressive behaviour toward police. He said officers later fired tear gas at the group, including him.
Student protests have continued across France for more than two weeks, with thousands arrested and dozens of students injured.
Rights groups and unions have accused police of using excessive force, while authorities say police officers have also been injured and that schools have been burned or vandalised.