French riot police officers check people on the Champs-Elysees avenue during the Act XIX (the 19th consecutive national protest on a Saturday) of the “yellow vests” movement in Paris, France, March 23, 2019. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
March 23, 2019
PARIS (Reuters) – French military forces joined police in Paris on Saturday to tackle the nineteenth consecutive weekend of “yellow vest” protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
Protesters were banned from gathering on the Champs Elysees after shops and businesses there were looted and wrecked last weekend, prompting the government to call in “Operation Sentinelle” military units.
Pockets of demonstrators began to gather in other parts of Paris and other major French cities in the latest protests which began in November after public anger against fuel taxes rises.
The movement has morphed into a broader backlash against Macron’s government, despite it scrapping the fuel taxes.
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Alexander Smith)
