Paris (France), 2 October (LaPresse/AP) – Protesters took to the streets in over 200 French cities to denounce public spending cuts and demand higher taxes on high incomes. In Paris, thousands of workers, pensioners and students began marching this afternoon from Place d'Italie. The Eiffel Tower informed visitors with a statement that it was closed due to the national strike called by the main French trade unions. The French Interior Ministry said that by midday, 85,000 demonstrators had taken to the streets outside Paris. Some teachers and health workers joined the strike, but overall, initial figures seem to indicate that fewer people responded to the unions' call than last month.