Macron urges calm, blames Middle East conflict as French cost-of-living protests turn violent

About 550,000 demonstrators protested living costs and fuel prices across France Saturday, with rioting and looting in several cities before President Emmanuel Macron's televised address.

• About 550,000 demonstrators joined largely peaceful protests Saturday over fuel prices, living costs and public services; rioting, looting and arson followed in Paris, Marseille and Lille.
• France's interior ministry reported about 1,000 injured police officers, seven seriously, while police arrested some 2,400 people.
• Macron called for "calm and order", endorsed protesters' "legitimate demands" and said looters would face justice.
• Macron attributed the unrest to the Middle East conflict's economic fallout, affirmed France's non-involvement, and announced a Gulf tour from Monday to secure energy supplies.