French Youths Riot, Drag Drivers From Cars

The riots that at times roiled France under Nicolas Sarkozy aren't ceasing under Francois Hollande. Some 100 youths clashed with police in the impoverished city of Amiens overnight, with rioters reportedly torching cars (in at least three cases dragging drivers out of them in order to do so, reports the AP) and firing buckshot at cops. Reuters attributes the eruption to frustration over spot police checks on residents. Officials say 16 officers were injured, one seriously.

Hollande, who sent his interior minister to the city, vowed to "mobilize all [of France's] resources to combat this violence. Security resources have sadly been declining for too many years. Our priority is security which means that the next budget will include additional resources for the gendarmerie and the police." Amiens itself is supposed to get more resources, too: Less than two weeks ago, the French government designated it as one of 15 impoverished zones selected to receive more money and security. (More Amiens stories.)