A French former surgeon accused of abusing hundreds of patients, most of them children, has told a court that he admits to having "committed despicable acts" and "understands and shares the suffering" caused to his alleged victims.

A retired surgeon accused of raping and sexually assaulting hundreds of young patients, some while they were under anesthetic, told the opening of his trial in western France on Monday that he had committed "despicable" acts.

A former surgeon is set to stand trial in France for the alleged rape or sexual abuse of 299 victims. Most of them were children who were his patients.

Three explosive devices were thrown against the wall of the Russian consulate in the French city of Marseille with two exploding, police said on Monday. Nobody was injured in the incident, which occurred on the third anniversary of the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.