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Protesters obstruct New Caledonia roads as French police gather

A thousand cops shown up in New Caledonia from France and the streets were relatively calm after a week of unrest, the French High Commission said on Monday, but roads were blocked by protesters and the airport stayed shut, stranding tourists.

Blockades of roads would continue, Field Action Co-ordination Cell, the activist group arranging the demonstrations in the French-ruled Pacific island, stated in a statement, urging a serene method.

Obstructions were making it a difficulty to get food supplies to stores in a number of locations or to provide secure travel for medical personnel, New Caledonia government officials stated, including, nevertheless, that there were no shortages of materials or staff.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stated on Monday that we. are still a way off a go back to typical.

Demonstrations erupted recently, sparked by anger among. indigenous Kanak people over a constitutional modification authorized. in France that would change who is allowed to participate in. elections, which local leaders fear will dilute the Kanak vote.

6 people have actually been killed and the unrest has actually left a trail. of burnt services and automobiles and looted stores, with road. barricades restricting access to medicine and food. Business. chamber stated 150 business had actually been looted and burnt.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated the. scenario, in the French territory, which lies in the southwest. Pacific, some 1,500 km (930 miles) east of Australia, is deeply. worrying.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department last week. condemned the violence and when asked on Monday to comment on. the latest developments, stated: We encourage all parties to work. to fix continuous stress.

On Friday, the United States raised its travel advisory. for New Caledonia to state that U.S. citizens should reassess. travel there due to the unrest.

France's leading official in the area, Louis Le Franc, said. on Sunday a police operation to gain back control of the roadway from. the capital Noumea to the worldwide airport would take. a number of days. Gendarmes had taken apart 76 obstructions, the High. Commission said on Monday.

Airline company Aircalin stated the airport would remained closed. up until Thursday.

Shares of Australian nickel miners were on the increase as. underlying prices surged by 7% over the weekend due to unrest in. New Caledonia, a key global supplier of the metal.

EVACUATIONS WAITED FOR

Pro-independence political parties state they want the French. government to withdraw the electoral reform before they restart. talks.

We need strong actions (from the government) to soothe the. situation ... this is a political, not a security concern, stated. Dominique Fochi, secretary general of the pro-independence. Caledonian Union.

Attal said that re-establishing order was a precondition to. dialogue.

Albanese earlier informed ABC radio his country was awaiting. approval from French authorities to send out an evacuation flight to. get tourists stranded in New Caledonia hotels.

Around 300 Australians have registered with consular. authorities.

There were around 3,200 people waiting to leave or go into New. Caledonia as industrial flights were cancelled due to the discontent. that broke out recently, the city government stated.

New Zealand defence aircraft were on standby and likewise. awaiting the French go-ahead to repatriate nationals, its. Foreign Minister Winston Peters composed in a post on X on Sunday.

(source: Reuters)