France to deploy soldiers to guard key sites after police "lost control"

 France will deploy troops from Opération Sentinelle, the army's domestic counterterrorism force, during protests planned for this Saturday, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told the National Assembly.

The soldiers will guard key sites "as a substitute to interior security forces," Nuñez said, freeing up police and gendarmes to deal with the crowds. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also promised a "massive" police deployment.

Nuñez admitted police had "lost control" and offered his resignation, which Macron refused. Paris and several other cities have since imposed overnight curfews.

The last time Sentinelle troops were used during protests was against the Yellow Vests in 2019.