France seeks answers after police failure to contain rioting

A protester watches the famed restaurant Fouquet's, damaged after riots, on the Champs Elysees avenue, during a yellow vests demonstration Saturday, March 16, 2019 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

PARIS -- A top French security official is acknowledging that police failed to contain rioting in Paris during yellow vest protests and says the government is trying to avoid a repeat scenario.

Junior Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said Monday on RTL radio that police had prepared for an upsurge in violence but were "less reactive" Saturday than in previous demonstrations. He said they were notably more cautious about using rubber ball launchers because of numerous injuries they've caused.

Nunez and the interior minister are meeting Monday with President Emmanuel Macron.

Rioters set life-threatening fires, ransacked luxury stores and attacked police around the Champs-Elysees on Saturday. The sudden resurgence of violence came as the yellow vest movement demanding economic justice has been dwindling.

Calls are already circulating on social networks for new protests next Saturday.