President Macron was criticised across France yesterday after he ordered the army on to the streets to help police tackle yellow-vest protesters.

Up to 7,000 soldiers armed with assault rifles will guard public buildings in Paris and other cities tomorrow, allowing riot police to confront the anti-government gilets jaunes.

The deployment comes as the government tries to stamp out the weekly urban guerrilla insurrections that have ravaged Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse and other towns since November.