Second gendarme killed as riots continue to shake New Caledonia

A second gendarme has been killed by an "accidental gunshot" in riots that have rocked France's overseas territory of New Caledonia, where Paris has imposed a state of emergency. Five people have died and hundreds of others arrested during four days of clashes.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin told AFP that it was "not a hostile shot" that killed the gendarme on Thursday.

It comes a day after the deaths of a 22-year-old gendarme, who was shot in the south-western coastal village of Plum, and three young indigenous Kanaks.

Hundreds of others have been wounded in the worst unrest the Pacific island has seen since the 1980s.

Pro-independence, largely Indigenous inhabitants are protesting against a French plan to impose new voting rules that would increase the number of people eligible to participate in elections. 

Under the bill, French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years will be allowed to vote in provincial elections. 

Pro-independence leaders fear this will dilute the Kanak vote. 

Reinforcements

France is sending in 500 security forces to support the 1,800 police and gendarmes already in the overseas territory.

In three municipalities, gendarmes faced about 5,000 rioters, including between 3,000 and 4,000 in the capital Noumea, France's High Commissioner Louis Le Franc said in a televised press conference.

Two hundred people have been arrested, and 64 gendarmes and police injured, while road barricades put up by the protesters were causing a "dire situation" for medicine and food for the population, he added.

Security forces placed five suspected ringleaders under house arrest, according to a statement by the high commission, which represents the French state in New Caledonia.

France is establishing an "air bridge", the high commission said, to rapidly move in troop and police reinforcements but also to bring in essential supplies for the population.

TikTok ban

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told a crisis ministerial meeting that troops had been deployed to secure ports and the international airport, which has been closed to commercial flights.

TikTok had been banned because it was being used by rioters, he said.

The state of emergency enables authorities to enforce travel bans, house arrests and searches.

Along with a night curfew, there are bans on gatherings, the carrying of weapons and the sale of alcohol.

(with newswires)