PARIS RIOT POLICE ACTED SWIFTLY TODAY (THURSDAY) TO BREAK UP A SERIES OF STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE STREETS OF THE CITY'S LATIN QUARTER THAT BEGAN WHEN ABOUT 60 YOUTHS OCCUPIED THE OFFICE OF THE RECTOR AT SORBONNE UNIVERSITY. AT ONE STAGE, POLICE REPORTED TO BATON CHARGES TO SCATTER STUDENTS MASSING FOR A DEMONSTRATION ON THE BOULEVARD SAINT MICHEL, NEAR THE SORBONNE.

YOUTHS WHO OCCUPIED THE RECTORATE WERE REMOVED AFTER TWO HOURS, DURING WHICH THEY OVERTURNED DESKS AND HURLED TEXT BOOKS AT THE RIFLE-CARRYING RIOT POLICE IN THE STREET BELOW.

SOON AFTER, ABOUT 800 STUDENTS BEGAN A MARCH DOWN THE BOULEVARD, CHANTING ANTI-POLICE SLOGANS. AS POLICE SEALED OFF SEVERAL STREETS IN THE LEFT BANK STUDENT QUARTER, ANOTHER FORCE OF RIOT POLICE CHARGED THE MARCHING STUDENTS AND BROKE UP THE GATHERING.

LATER, SEVERAL HUNDRED STUDENTS RETURNED TO THE BOULEVARD AND BEGAN ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION. AS THEY MARCHED, CHANTING AND SHOUTING ABUSE AT THE POLICE, THEY WERE JOINED BY MORE YOUNG PEOPLE.

AFTER FIVE MINUTES, THE POLICE SWUNG INTO ACTION AGAIN, CHASING THE STUDENTS BACK DOWN THE BOULEVARD AND INTO SIDE STREETS.

ABOUT 200 STUDENTS WERE HELD FOR IDENTITY CHECKS, BUT THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF SERIOUS INJURY.