French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday criticised world leaders for making "stupid" comments about the rioting and looting that broke out on the sidelines of nationwide demonstrations in France Saturday, in an apparent swipe at US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Macron said the leaders were taking aim at France in the context of upcoming elections in their countries and added that they had been influenced by fake videos generated by artificial intelligence (AI) about the riots.
Read moreLive: Those who want to cause chaos will not be allowed to, Macron says ahead of Saturday protests
Saturday's unrest overshadowed demonstrations in which more than half a million people marched peacefully nationwide against the rising cost of living. Those rallies followed four weeks of student protests that have closed many schools across France.
Since the rioting – the worst France has seen in years – and ahead of further cost-of-living demonstrations this coming Saturday, Macron's government has warned it will brook no further violence.
Authorities in Paris and several other cities imposed nighttime curfews Monday and Tuesday in certain zones prone to protests or looting.
Speaking Wednesday, the French president accused unnamed foreign powers of peddling fake images of violence.
"There was foreign manipulation of information which led to unacceptable and even stupid comments by many, including foreign leaders," Macron told reporters in Doha after a trip to the Gulf.
He did not mention Trump or Netanyahu by name. But the US leader faces key midterm elections in November while the Israeli premier will fight for his political life in elections this month.
Macron said that the leaders campaigning for elections had repeated "sometimes with credulity" material generated by AI.
Netanyahu on Tuesday said France had been hit by an "invasion of extremist Islam" while Trump has declared "what's happening in France has to do with immigration".
Trump hailed Marine Le Pen, the far-right frontrunner in France's presidential elections next year, as a "conservative voice".
Macron emphasised he did not see "foreign interference" in what unfolded in France at the weekend.
But he warned: "We saw images generated by AI which showed scenes that never took place in France.
"We had people who explained that we had been 'invaded by hordes of migrants and Islamists' – which is totally false."
"In these moments you see who likes France and who does not. All the people who speak badly of us now do not like our country," he added.
Watch moreOut of control? France stunned by October 17 rioting
Macron said he would meet intelligence officials, Lecornu and other ministers on Thursday to obtain a detailed account of the October 17 unrest.
"Those who want to cause disorder in city centres next Saturday will be prevented from doing so," Macron told reporters.
"There must be no wavering at the top of the state."
Government ministers have promised a vastly reinforced security operation for the next wave of demonstrations planned for Saturday after acknowledging shortcomings in their initial response, with troops expected to be deployed alongside additional police.
Macron was criticised in some quarters at home for undertaking a visit to the Middle East at such a time and also for an address to the nation on Sunday which critics said lacked a clear path forward.
But, before returning home, he insisted he was in control.
"There must be no sign of febrility," he said. "I am fulfilling my role. I am at my post."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)