PARIS — The clashes that erupted across France on Saturday during protests against the new security bill injured 62 police officers countrywide, Minister of Interior Gerald Darmanin said. He denounced in a statement all acts of violence against the law-enforcers as totally unacceptable. The Ministry of Interior estimated that 133,000 persons took part in the protests against the controversial bill and 81 have been arrested at so-called "freedom marches" across France. The clashes broke out when police forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protests at the Bastille square and other landmark sites in Paris. The legislation, passed by the National Assembly — the lower house of French parliament — last week, still awaits a final approval from the Senate. Protesters consider it an attempt to undermine the freedom of expression as it criminalizes the sharing of images of police officers on duty via social media. The bill sets, in Article 24, a one-year prison term and a fine of EUR37,000 (nearly $45,000) for sharing the images that could be deemed harmful for the "physical or psychological integrity" of police officers. Several videos published on social networks appeared to show police officers being beaten by demonstrators at the events. Two people that took part in protests that were not in the capital reported they had been injured to the General Inspectorate of Police (IGPN), police said. Syrian freelance photographer, Ameer Al Halbi, 24, who was covering the demonstration was injured in on his face, according to AFP. Reporters Without Borders" secretary-general, Christophe Deloire, denounced what he said was "unacceptable police violence" against Halbi. The French parliament is currently examining article 24 of the National Security bill, which proposes criminalizing the filming and publication of images of on-duty police officers. Media groups in France say it could impact journalists covering police operations, while other critics fear it"s intended to dissuade citizens from holding the police accountable. The organizers of the protests claim 500,000 took to streets throughout France, reporting 200,000 demonstrators in the capital Paris alone. The StopLawSecurityGlobal coordination, which includes journalists" unions and human rights groups, also denounced violent scenes that it said took place in Paris and Lyon after the end of the demonstration. The protests came after video images of three police officers beating a black music producer inside his studio in Paris went viral this week, causing an outcry that saw politicians, footballers and millions of social media users express their disgust. On Thursday, French Prime Minister Jean Castex said the government would review the wording of the draft law following the new scandal over police brutality. In Paris, thousands gathered in the Place de la Republique carrying flags and banners that denounced police violence, demanded media freedom and called for the Interior Minister"s resignation. Police said around 3,500 people took to the streets of the French city of Nantes on Friday night to demonstrate. Joint trade unions say the figure was between 6,00-7,000. Demonstrators carried banners and placards reading "defense of individual and collective freedoms," "no to the proposal for a comprehensive security law," and "violence, the last refuge of incompetence," as well as "not seen, not taken." — Agencies