Reporting from the Place de la Republique FRANCE 24's Ben Barnier said there was an 'ongoing standoff' taking place between the police and protesters.

'I saw [the protesters] firing flares throwing whatever they could find at police and I saw police throwing tear gas canisters in order to try and push the protesters away from the Place de la Republique' he said.

'We spoke with several angry protesters who told me they wanted to destroy society altogether they wanted to get their message across and this is what they are trying to do now.'

Hollande condemns 'scandalous' clashes

France's interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Sunday evening that 208 people had been arrested in connection with the clashes of which 178 had been charged.

Speaking from an EU-Turkey summit in Brussels French President Francois Hollande condemned the actions of the activists involved.

“These disruptive elements have nothing to do with defenders of the environment” he said.

“It is doubly regrettable even scandalous that this happened at the Place de la Republique where flowers and candles have been left in memory of those who were killed by the terrorists’ bullets.'

The climate pressure group 350.org distanced itself from the illegal protest saying that the demonstrators had violated the “nonviolent pledge that every group involved in the climate coalition” agreed to.

The statement expressed hope that France would not clamp down further on freedoms during the conference following the incident.

A march planned for Sunday in Paris ahead of the UN climate change summittaking place at Le Bourget outside the capital was banned by police under the state of emergency rules imposed after the November 13 attacks which were claimed by Islamic State group militants.

Police also put 24 green activists under house arrestahead of the summit saying they were suspected of planning violent protests.

Instead of marching activists had earlier Sunday covered the Place de la Republique with thousands of shoesincluding a pair of trainers left by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Around 4500 demonstrators also formed a human chain through the city passing near the Bataclan concert hall where 90 people were killed in the terror attacks.

Meanwhile around the world more than 10 countries witnessed their biggest-ever climate marches according to Avaaz with 140000 people marching in Australia 50000 in London and 20000 in Rome.

A march took place in Sanaa Yemen despite bombs falling close to the start of the route Avaaz said. There were also protests across India in the the Pacific islands Senegal the Gambia and Cote d’Ivoire while in Kenya there was a march across the Equator.

Emma Ruby-Sachs Campaign Director of Avaaz said: “The charge from the streets for leaders to act on climate has been deafening with record numbers turning out across the world. Over 570000 people are calling with one voice for global leaders to deliver a 100% clean energy future at the Paris climate summit.

“Despite events being cancelled across France global actions were larger than last year’s massive march in New York breaking records in Bangladesh Australia Britain and more.”