Riot police in Paris fired tear gas into crowds which gathered after Nicolas Sarkozy's presidential election victory.

The disturbances happened at the Place de la Bastille, a popular hub for demonstrations and strikes.

Thousands of police have been deployed in the capital and its suburbs.

Railway stations are also under high surveillance in case gangs of youths travel to disrupt victory festivities.

The trouble followed news that Sarkozy - a right-wing Conservative - is thought to have beaten socialist Segolene Royal by six points to replace Jacques Chirac.

Sarkozy - who in his victory speech vowed to represent all of France - said: "The French people have chosen change.

"They have decided to break with the ideas and habits of the past. I will rehabilitate work, authority, morality, respect, merit.

"I will restore honour to the nation and national identity - I will bring French pride back to the French people."

In a second speech to massed crowds, he said: "France has given me everything and the time has come for me to give back everything it has given."

Sarkozy, who has promised 100 days of action when he takes control, added that America could "count on our friendship" but that it must take the lead on climate change.

Initial exit polls revealed the reform-minded victor won 53% of the vote. Although unofficial, the exit polls are usually accurate.

Ms Royal, addressing her faithful supporters in Paris after conceding defeat, said she had given "all her strength" during the campaign.

She added: "I would like to thank the 17 million people who voted for me and I express disappointment but I would like to say to them that something has been started that will not stop."

Sky's Foreign Affairs editor, Tim Marshall, said Sarkozy is known as 'Thatcher with trousers', after former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

He added: "He'll think he's got a mandate to change this country."

Voter turnout was 85%, the highest level in 33 years.

Mr Sarkozy, 52, the son of a Hungarian immigrant who heads the ruling Union for a Popular Movement, was seen as the clear frontrunner.

The latter stages of the campaign had been marked by a bitter war of words between the two.

On Friday, Ms Royal - who would have been the country's first woman president - warned of "violence and brutalities triggered across the country" if he wins.

She was highlighting fears that a victory by him could spark unrest in the poor high-immigration neighbourhoods that were the scene of riots in 2005.

Mr Sarkozy, who was Interior Minister at the time, is a hate figure for many young people of black and Arab origin.

He has also been vilified as a hard-right authoritarian by many on the left.
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In Lyon, in southeast France, police fired flashballs at a crowd of some 150 angry about Sarkozy's victory against Socialist Segolene Royal and detained three people, police said. The group was apparently trying to upset a victory party by Sarkozy supporters. Two officers were slightly injured, police said.

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PHOTOS of events here:
 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20070506160144512