Yellow vest protesters still block French traffic circles

Yellow vest protesters are occupying dozens of traffic roundabouts in France, even as their movement for economic justice appears to be losing momentum on the fifth straight weekend of demonstrations

Demonstrators wearing yellow vests on the blocked highway near the French border with Spain, during a protest Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 in Biriatou, southwestern France. Police have deployed in large numbers Saturday for the fifth straight weekend of demonstrations by the "yellow vest" protesters, with authorities repeating calls for calm after protests on previous weekends turned violent. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)Read moreBob Edme / AP

by Associated Press, The Associated Press

Published Dec. 16, 2018, 9:29 a.m. ET

PARIS (AP) — Yellow vest protesters are occupying dozens of traffic roundabouts in France, even as their movement for economic justice appears to be losing momentum on the fifth straight weekend of demonstrations.

Some protesters remained Sunday despite a call by Interior Minister Christophe Castaner to free the traffic roundabouts. Eight people have died in incidents tied to the yellow vest movement, mostly from traffic accidents linked to roads blocked by protesters.

On Saturday, protesters took to the streets in cities across France, including in Paris, but in far fewer numbers than on previous weekends.

The protesters take their name from the yellow safety vests French motorists carry in their vehicles. The protests began in November against fuel tax hikes but have morphed into a general expression of anger at the government of President Emanuel Macron.