Rioters to face strict measures, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed that people involved in violent disturbances across the country on Saturday "will be prosecuted and punished", after a protest that began over funding of the country's school system turned into a wider, more angry movement.

About 1,800 people were arrested over the weekend in France as protests turned to riots and looting in many regions.

Tear gas and water cannons were deployed by police against masked protesters in several cities, with reports of cars being set alight and buildings such as town halls being targeted.

A police compound in the southwestern city of Bordeaux was vandalized, and there was widespread looting across the country. In Saint-Etienne, it was reported that a protester had his hand blown off by what was described as a police crowd control grenade. A similar incident had occurred earlier in Lens, in which a 15-year-old sustained the same type of injury.

The violence comes as contenders are starting to gather momentum in the early stages of race for the country's presidential election, which will take place in April and May. The law states that Macron cannot seek a third consecutive term.

"No room for violence in our Republic," Macron wrote on social media on Saturday night.

"Those who have broken, attacked the prefectures as well as businesses, looted even our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished … to the law enforcement forces, guarantors of the right to demonstrate, I express the support of the nation."

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu also expressed his disgust at the violent scenes. "Peaceful demonstrations have their rightful place in our Republic. Arson, looting and attacks have no place whatsoever," he said.

"Today, ultra-left groups have orchestrated violence in several French cities; delinquents have joined in to pillage and destroy."

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said more than 1,800 people had been arrested during Saturday's protests, which had left over 500 police and firefighters injured.

Marine Tondelier, leader of the country's Greens party, said Nunez should resign over the police response, which she called an "absolute disaster".

"Unable to anticipate an adequate security setup guaranteeing the safety of people and property, Laurent Nunez is clearly overwhelmed by the situation, whose scale he has evidently underestimated," she said.

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said the majority of demonstrators had wanted to "march calmly", but had seen their protests used as a cover for "acts of vandalism".