Paris, April 25 (RHC)-- Hundreds of protesters have been arrested in Paris following the results in the first round of the presidential elections in France.  

The newspaper Le Monde reported that several hundred protesters took to the streets throwing bottles and setting off fireworks.  Riot police turned out armed with shields and tear gas to disperse the crowd. 

According to Le Monde, the crowds had gathered prior to any publication of the numbers from the first round.  Young people reportedly filled the streets to specifically protest against both far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and former banker Emmanuel Macron.  Some were observed carrying anti-fascist banners.  Demonstrations were carried out in Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes and Rennes. 

Police reported that they arrested 143 people, 29 of whom were held overnight. Six police officers and three protesters received minor injuries. 

The final first-round result showed that independent candidate Emmanuel Macron had topped the round by amassing 23.75 percent of the votes.  He was closely trailed by former Front National president Marine Le Pen, who managed to record 21.53 percent. 

Conservative Francois Fillon with 19.91 percent and leftist Jean-Luc Mélenchon with 19.64 percent were eliminated from the second round of elections, which will be held on May 7th.