Sonia Lagarde, the mayor of Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia in the South Pacific has said it is ‘under siege’ following days of riots.
Unrest began in the French territory last week after law changes which would have allowed more people to vote in elections in the territory. Previously only people who had been born in the territory before 1988, and their descendants, could vote. This has now been changed to allow people who have lived in New Caledonia for more than ten years to vote.
This has led to riots, primarily by people from the indigenous Kanak, who fear that their voice will be diluted in political matters.
Six people have been confirmed killed.
French gendarmes have also launched a major operation to regain control of the road which links the capital and the airport.
A state of emergency has been declared including a night curfew.
Reinforcements have arrived but Lagarde said the situation was still far from calm.
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