20 Dec 2004

Blockade at French Polynesia's data processing centre ends

6:56 am on 20 December 2004

Groups opposed to the French Polynesian president, Gaston Flosse, have decided to end the blockade of the territory's data processing centre in Papeete.

They began their occupation last month as part of a popular campaign to get France to dissolve the assembly after the collapse of the Oscar Temaru-led government and to hold fresh general elections.

But France has rejected all demands and petitions for a general election and last month, all political leaders called for the occupations to be stopped.

Last week, the government of Gaston Flosse began to run its data processing from secret locations to ensure public servants could get paid before Christmas.

The occupation of the presidential palace is continuing.