Police break up rallies against coronavirus regulations in Paris and Berlin

Police officers face the participants in a demonstration against Covid-19 control measures measures in Berlin, 29 August 2020. © AP/Bernd Von Jutrczenka

In Berlin, mass protests against pandemic restrictions were allowed to go ahead after a bitter legal battle.

The protest had barely begun at 9 am at the city's Brandenburg Gate when it was stopped by the police, who claimed that the participants were not respecting minimum social distancing measures.

People attend a rally against the government's restrictions following the coronavirus outbreak, in Berlin, Germany, August 29, 2020. © Reuters/Christian Mang

After the announcement, the demonstrators shouted 'Resistance' and 'We are the people,' a slogan often used by the far-right, and sang the German national anthem.

Last-minute permission from city court 

Berlin city authorities had previously decided not to allow the Saturday demonstration to go ahead, fearing that the estimated 22,000 protesters would not adhere to 1.5m social distancing rules.

The ban sparked outrage from organisers and their supporters who flooded social media with angry messages vowing to protest anyway, with some even calling for violence.

But on the eve of the demo, Berlin's administrative court sided with the demonstrators, saying there was no indication that organisers would "deliberately ignore" social distancing rules and endanger public health.

People take part in a demonstration to protest against restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, on August 29, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. © AFP/John Macdougall

Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of Germany's 16 federal states on Thursday introduced tougher coronavirus restrictions to curb the pandemic, including a minimum 50 euro fine for people not wearing face masks in compulsory zones.

The German government on Sunday condemned the "unacceptable" behaviour of some protesters during the rally in which hundreds were arrested and an attempt was made to storm the Reichstag parliament building.

"Extremists and trouble-makers" tried to storm the Reichstag, the "symbolic centre of our democracy", Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told Sunday's edition of the tabloid newspaper Bild.

A woman argues with a policeman during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris on August 29, 2020 AFP - CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT

Yellow Vests join in Paris anti-face mask rally

Meanwhile, some 300 people gathered in a peaceful anti-mask demonstration on Saturday in Paris' Place de la Nation.

A few Yellow Vest protesters were reported to be amongst them.

The demonstrators accused the government of 'manipulating' people through fear, claiming that making face masks compulsory in big cities was not 'scientifically justified'.

The protesters were surrounded by police who fined several people 135 euros for failing to wear face masks.

(with wires)