Police break up protest

At least 10 people were hurt yesterday when police New Caledonia used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a strike by about 400 workers belonging to a union representing New Caledonia's indigenous Kanak population, union sources said.

Public transport in New Caledonia, a French territory, has been disrupted since November by the strike by the union, known as USTKE, which is fighting for one of its members who was fired to be reinstated.