French angered by gay marriage bill

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in central Paris on Sunday for a final mass protest against a bill to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption, AFP reports.

There were scuffles and police fired tear gas as the protest spilled over onto the Champs Elysees, the avenue which runs past the president's palace.

France's Senate is due to debate the bill next month after it was passed by the lower house of parliament.

Opinion polls suggest a majority of French people still support gay marriage but their numbers have fallen in recent weeks.

Police had banned the protesters from the Champs Elysees, but groups of them broke through to the avenue.

Police used batons and tear gas to try to dislodge several hundred people who gathered there as the main demonstration ended.