"The Chinese officials decided they would not stop here because they were put out by Parisian citizens expressing their support for human rights. It is their responsibility," said Delanoe.
Earlier police and officials said the Olympic torch had been extinguished at least twice because of technical problems or for safety reasons. On one occasion, it was put out despite the fact that protesters appeared to be well away from the relay team, which was flanked by police on rollerblades.
"Security Fiasco," France 24 television said in a banner headline running on the bottom of its screen.
At least 23 people were briefly detained by police for trying to disturb the relay, a spokesman for the Free Tibet movement said. Television showed one protester lying in the road, his face smeared with blood: "Free Tibet" he shouted.
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