Death toll in French "yellow vest" protests rises to nine

PARIS, Dec 20 (Reuters) - The death toll linked to France's anti-government "yellow vest" protests has risen to nine, the government said on Thursday, as demonstrators kept up major disruptions of road traffic.

"There has been a ninth death, this morning in Agen, by a roundabout. It was a 'Yellow Vest' who was protesting outside but was not following roadway safety instructions," Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told reporters.

Local officials said the latest victim, a man aged about 60, was hit by a truck near a motorway where demonstrators had been gathering.

Most of the nine deaths have occurred as a result of road accidents, since protesters have been blocking off roundabouts and damaging motorway toll booths.

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The "gilets jaunes" (yellow vest) protesters - named after the high-visibility jackets French motorists must carry in their cars - launched their demonstration in mid-November to rally against fuel tax increases.

But the movement has since evolved into a wider backlash against the economic reforms of President Emmanuel Macron, and protests in Paris this month were marred by major outbreaks of violence and vandalism. (Reporting by Julie Carriat Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta/Inti Landauro and Mark Heinrich)