27 Oct 2006

Peaceful march in French Polynesia against riot police operation

5:13 pm on 27 October 2006

About 250 people in French Polynesia have joined a march involving former GIP intervention force workers and striking unionists to demand the resignation of the French high commissioner, Anne Boquet.

This follows her decision earlier this week to use riot police in a bid to end an illegal occupation of the presidential palace and the assembly premises.

The former leader of GIP, Leonard Puputauki, says he believes that his presence prevented people being killed.

Mr Puputauki told a local radio station that no provision was made to remove the old people who had been parked at the assembly before the police acted.

Meanwhile, today's assembly sitting has been called off because there was only one MP present.