13 Jan 2003

Police in New Caledonia try to calm clan rivalry

5:41 pm on 13 January 2003

Police in New Caledonia have been deployed in Houailou to calm tension between two clans.

Press reports say several shots were fired last week and six traditional houses were set on fire by members of the Poukiou clan.

Nobody was injured in the clash but it forced members of the Euribeary clan to flee to premises owned by the Houailou mayoralty.

The rivalry stems from a dispute over cattle and several months ago a member of the Poukiou clan was seriously wounded by a gun shot for which the perpatrator was jailed.