23 Dec 2017

Doctors refuse to go south of Noumea for security reasons

1:27 pm on 23 December 2017
Police officers guard the road in Mont-Dore, to the south of New Caledonia's capital, Noumea. The road is frequently closed by armed protesters.

Police officers guard the road in Mont-Dore, to the south of New Caledonia's capital, Noumea. The road is frequently closed by armed protesters. Photo: AFP

New Caledonia's medical emergency doctors will no longer go south of Noumea for security reasons.

This follows an attack on a physician on the road near St Louis.

The doctor's vehicle was repeatedly rammed from behind by a pickup truck before it was pushed off the road in what the doctor says was an attempt to kill him.

The road, which has been the scene of repeated violence, was subsequently closed for several hours.

Earlier this month, a driver near St Louis hit several vehicles before fleeing the scene.