Paris: France's prime minister met Monday with police officers targeted by violent yellow vest protesters, in a show of support amid growing concerns about growing brutality from both sides.
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe visited a motorcycle police unit involved in an incident Saturday near the glittering Champs-Elysees avenue in central Paris.
In the incident, during the sixth straight weekend of protests by the grassroots movement protesting high taxes and other economic problems, an officer pulled a gun after protesters kicked over his motorcycle.
He did not fire it, but the move prompted a surge of anger by demonstrators hurling paving stones and other projectiles that drove the officer and his team to flee.
Overall, the number of protesters Saturday was sharply down from previous weekends, and most actions were peaceful. But despite multiple concessions from President Emmanuel Macron, the movement isn't over and one group is calling for Christmas protests Monday and Tuesday on the Champs-Elysees, and others are planning action on New Year's Eve.
Many protesters have denounced what they describe as disproportionate responses by police that include
multiple beatings also captured on video. Hundreds of people have been injured in the clashes, mainly protesters but also police officers and journalists.
Police say they're acting in self-defense, and defended the officer who brandished his gun, saying it served as a deterrent to protect his colleagues.