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Youths clash with police after demonstration in western France honoring slain protester

Associated Press
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A protestor throws a tear gas canister during clashes with police on the sidelines of a demonstration against police violence in Nantes, western France, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. Projectile-throwing youths clashed with police in two French cities on the sidelines of demonstrations Saturday honoring a protester who was killed during a similar confrontation over a dam project last week. (AP Photo/Laetitia Notarianni) (The Associated Press)

Protestors are partially visible through smoke from tear gas launched by police during clashes on the sidelines of a demonstration against police violence in Nantes, western France, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. Projectile-throwing youths clashed with police in two French cities on the sidelines of demonstrations Saturday honoring a protester who was killed during a similar confrontation over a dam project last week. (AP Photo/Laetitia Notarianni) (The Associated Press)

Riot police take up their positions during clashes with protestors on the sidelines of a demonstration against police violence in Nantes, western France, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. Projectile-throwing youths clashed with police in two French cities on the sidelines of demonstrations Saturday honoring a protester who was killed during a similar confrontation over a dam project last week. (AP Photo/Laetitia Notarianni) (The Associated Press)

Projectile-throwing youths are clashing with police in western France on the sidelines of a demonstration honoring a protester who was killed during a dam project rally last week.

Riot police bearing shields have fired tear-gas canisters in the city Nantes to disperse the masked protesters — some of whom lit fires, chucked back the canisters and tore down street signs to use as projectiles.

One protester's sign decried "murderous capitalism," and a spray-painted wall read: "The mood is napalm; no return to calm."

The clashes came after hundreds of people participated Saturday in a demonstration to honor a 21-year-old protester who died last week in clashes between police and protesters near the southwestern town of Lisle-sur-Tarn. That demonstration was called by environmental activists over a dam project in the region.