24 Nov 2016

Troubled New Caledonian road open again

9:42 am on 24 November 2016

The main road south of the New Caledonian capital is open again after being closed yesterday afternoon after stones were thrown at traffic.

The public broadcaster said the road to Mont-Dore had been blocked after stones were thrown and wrecked cars dumped on it.

But police deployed armoured vehicles and reopened the road.

The road linking Noumea to the territory's very south has repeatedly been blocked in the past month amid clashes between local Kanaks and security forces.

A surge of clashes along the road near St Louis around three weeks ago have created fears among commuters.

There has been no arrest over clashes at the start of the month during which five policemen suffered gun shot injuries and dozens of stolen vehicles were set alight to block the road.

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