Violence marked Nicolas Sarkozy’s victory in the French presidential election last night as police fought running battles with demonstrators in Paris and other cities.

Clashes erupted in the centre of the capital when about 2,000 people gathered at the Place de la Bastille – the traditional meeting place of the French Left – in a show of support for the defeated Socialist candidate, Ségolène Royal.

What began as a peaceful protest swiftly turned sour as about a hundred protesters smashed cars and bus shelters and threw bricks and bottles at the police.

One climbed the statue in the centre of the square, while others held a protest on the steps of the Bastille Opera House. Riot police responded with teargas followed by several charges across the Bastille.

To the south of the square a car was set alight, and to the north a hail of projectiles and fireworks rained down on gendarmerie units brought in as reinforcements. The clashes lasted about an hour and a half before officers drove a final group of casseurs away from the Opera House and into the surrounding roads.

A long-haired man was frog-marched away, limping between two large riot police officers. Behind him a local prostitute in a tight, white dress, caught in the violence, staggered out of a cloud of teargas, holding her face and coughing.

A police officer said: “This has been quite violent and was similar to the sort of things we saw during the demonstrations last year. It’s always the same story, with the professional thugs getting in on the demonstration and wreaking havoc.”

Noemie Capart, 24, a psychology student and supporter of Ms Royal, said: “There weren’t very many demonstrators, but all of a sudden the police charged out with extreme violence.

“I really don’t think it was justified. They used an incredible amount of teargas and I was caught in the middle of it. I was choking and very, very frightened. I think the police wanted to put on a show of force and I hope this isn’t an indication of what Sarkozy’s presidency is going to be like.”

Standing next to an Opal Corsa with its windscreen smashed, Pascal Poiset, 39, a chauffeur, said: “We always get these thugs in France and I wasn’t at all surprised that the evening ended in violence here. But we have known worse over the years.”

As he spoke the police made a final sweep through the square, leaving behind a scene of desolation. Barriers had been torn down, rubbish bins overturned and graffiti scrawled on walls. The road was covered in broken glass, stones and empty CS gas canisters. A youth ran past shouting: “Mort à Sarkozy [Death to Sarkozy].”

In Nantes, 600 demonstrators were dispersed by police using teargas as they approached Mr Sarkozy’s local campaign headquarters.

In Lyons, a fist-fight broke out between supporters and opponents of the new President. Clashes between demonstrators and police were reported in Toulouse and Bordeaux.

Times Recommends

• Experts baffled by vanishing sea lions
• CIA caught in a dirty and secretive war
• Double life of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab