Opposition to gay marriage has become conflated with all sorts of other anti-government grievances coming from the right and the atmosphere in the country is particularly volatile, the BBC’s Hugh Schofield says. France is now the ninth country in Europe, and 14th globally, to legalize gay marriage.

Tens of thousands of people have rallied [on May 25, 2013] in Paris against a new French law allowing same-sex marriage.

Police estimate that up to 150,000 people joined marches that converged on the city centre, but organisers put the figure close to one million.

Clashes erupted after the rally finished between far-right activists and riot police. The authorities said nearly 100 people were arrested.

On Saturday 50 people were detained for blocking the Champs-Elysees.

The same-sex marriage bill, which also legalises gay adoption, was signed into law by President Francois Hollande last week, after months of heated debate.

French people have been bitterly divided over the issue. On Tuesday, a far-right historian shot himself dead in Notre Dame Cathedral, leaving messages in which he denounced gay marriage.

During Sunday’s protests, demonstrators headed in columns from a number of points in Paris to the Invalides complex.

Clashes broke out after the main demonstration finished

Some marchers drove donkeys, one of which bore a placard which read: “I am an ass. I voted Hollande”.

The leader of the UMP conservative opposition party, Jean-Francois Cope, headed one of the processions.

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