French demonstrators scuffle with police

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

Several hundred French police charged into about 200 demonstrators at the end of two hours of street battles in Paris on Sunday (May 26) in the shadow of Napoleon's tomb at the Invalides at the end of a major protest against gay marriage legislation.

Eyewitnesses said numerous arrests were made as large amounts of tear gas were fired at the protesters, a group of about 150,000 people who according to police estimates took part in the demonstration.

Legislation clearing the way for same-sex unions cleared its final hurdle earlier this month, the first gay marriage is due to take place in southern France next week.