New Caledonia under siege as French troops bid to restore order

NOUMEA, France: French Pacific territory New Caledonia was “under siege” Saturday, the mayor of its capital Noumea said, with another person killed in rioting that has left six dead over six days.

Anger is still high over a contested voting reform, with Noumea mayor Sonia Lagarde telling news channel BFMTV “we’re far from getting back to calm” even after the arrival of hundreds of military and police reinforcements. Saturday’s deadly incident occurred in the archipelago’s northern Kaala-Gomen area, General Nicolas Mattheos said, with two other men wounded. 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. Hundreds of heavily armed French soldiers and police on Saturday patrolled Noumea, where streets were filled with debris. “Today, the rule of law, security for citizens, are not back in place everywhere in (New) Caledonia,” said Philippe Blaise, vice-president of the territory’s southern province.