On some of these pictures the caption includes (Machete-waving mobs). I have yet to see a picture with any of these people with anything other than anti-Chirac signs in their hands.
I have my doubts that anything the AFP says about these events can be trusted. Let me throw this 'out there' - the french are very unhappy about US successes in Iraq and at the same time attempting to draw attention away from their complicity with Saddam a la Oil for Food. They would like nothing better than to draw the US into this conflict. IMO.