Anti-G7 summit protesters took to the streets this year, as every year. Protests are being held near the town of Biarritz, where the summit was held.

Police intervened with pepper spray and water cannons on the protesters, while authorities said 68 protesters had been detained.

Intense security measures were taken at the summit.

The G7 summit, which brings together seven of the world's largest economies each year, began in the town of Biarritz in southwestern France.

The United States, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, and Canada will address issues mainly "economic inequality" and trade wars, global warming, international security, Iran's nuclear energy program and fires in the Amazon jungle that hit the summit agenda at the last minute this year.

Representatives from other countries were invited to the summit, which will run until August 26.

China is the second-largest economy in the world but is not included in this group on the grounds that its per capita income is not in the G7 standard.

Russia's membership in the group has been suspended since Crimea's annexation. (ILKHA)