NOUMEA: Hundreds of French security personnel tried to restore order in the Pacific territory of New Caledonia on Saturday, after a fifth night of riots, looting and unrest.
Bands of heavily armed French marines and police patrolled the capital Noumea, where streets were filled with debris from another night of violence.
Reporters in the city's Magenta district saw vehicles and buildings burned, with a phalanx of riot police on the scene trying to reassert government control.
One more person was killed Saturday and two injured in France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia as security personnel tried to restore order after a fifth night of riots and looting that has now claimed six lives.
The incident occurred in the archipelago's northern Kaala-Gomen area, General Nicolas Mattheos said. An informed source said the dead man and one of the injured were a father and son trying to cross a barricade erected by rioters.
The unrest has been blamed on economic malaise, social tensions and -- above all -- a political fight between mostly Indigenous pro-independence activists and Paris authorities.
French officials have accused a separatist group known as CCAT of being behind the riots.
Ten activists accused of organising the violence have been placed under house arrest, according to authorities.
The territory is "on a destructive path" warned local minister Vaimu'a Muliava Saturday, telling those involved "you are only punishing yourselves."
Pro-independence groups say that would dilute the vote of Indigenous Kanaks, who make up about 40 percent of the population.
French authorities have called for talks and insist the situation is now "calmer" and being brought under control.
"Reinforcements will control areas that have got out of our hands in recent days," said high commissioner Louis Le Franc, the highest-ranking state official in New Caledonia.
They began landing Thursday at the French army-controlled La Tontouta International Airport and could be seen moving through Noumea in red berets, toting rifles, gas masks and riot shields.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said Thursday that about 1,000 extra security forces were being deployed -- adding to the 1,700 already present. Efforts to negotiate peace have so far stumbled.
President Emmanuel Macron cancelled a video conference with local political leaders Thursday for lack of willing participants, but began contacting pro- and anti-independence officials individually on Friday, his office said. — AFP
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