26 Jun 2003

New Caledonian police use tear gas to subdue renewed ethnic fight

3:47 pm on 26 June 2003

Police in New Caledonia have used teargas to break about a fresh outbreak of violence in St Louis between Kanaks and settlers from Wallis and Futuna.

They say the clashes left a police officer injured as well as a nun who was on her way to the Catholic mission at Ave Maria.

The violence erupted after what is believed to have been an arson attack on a Kanak man's home who last year accidentally killed a Wallisian.

Although no link to any Wallisians was made, Kanaks open fire at the Wallisian settlement and at an armoured police vehicle.

They also seized a four-wheel drive vehicle and set it ablaze.