Thousands of people marched through Paris on Saturday to decry the proposed extension of a state of emergency imposed after the November Paris attacks.

Braving driving rain and shouting slogans including "state of emergency - police state" the marchers protested loudly against a measure they see as curbing human rights.

Police put participation at 5,000 while organizers said some 20,000 people took part.

Several other cities including Toulouse in the south held smaller-scale marches organised by unions, human rights organisations and other pressure groups.

France's highest administrative court on Wednesday refused to lift the state of emergency.

Source: MENA