Protesters have taken to the streets of more than 200 towns and cities across France to denounce spending cuts and demand higher taxes on the rich. In Paris, thousands of workers, retirees and students marched on Thursday afternoon from Place d'Italie. The Eiffel Tower informed visitors in a statement that it was closed due to the strikes. "It's true, it's the first time that there are three days of strikes and protests in a month without a government or budget. The French Interior Ministry said 195,000 protesters have taken to the streets across the country, including 24,000 in Paris.