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| Guadeloupe protests turn deadly | Guadeloupe protests turn deadly |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| France has appealed for calm on its Caribbean island of Guadeloupe after a local official died during protests against the rising cost of living. | France has appealed for calm on its Caribbean island of Guadeloupe after a local official died during protests against the rising cost of living. |
| The union representative was shot dead as he drove up to a barricade set up by youths in Guadeloupe's biggest town, Pointe-a-Pitre, local officials said. | The union representative was shot dead as he drove up to a barricade set up by youths in Guadeloupe's biggest town, Pointe-a-Pitre, local officials said. |
| Earlier, police had responded after coming under a barrage of stones from protesters who burned cars in the town. | Earlier, police had responded after coming under a barrage of stones from protesters who burned cars in the town. |
| Several were reportedly injured as police used tear gas to disperse them. | Several were reportedly injured as police used tear gas to disperse them. |
| In recent days, the month-long general strike on Guadeloupe has spread to the French island of Martinique, 160km (100 miles) to the south, where looting has been reported amid thousands-strong rallies demanding higher wages. | In recent days, the month-long general strike on Guadeloupe has spread to the French island of Martinique, 160km (100 miles) to the south, where looting has been reported amid thousands-strong rallies demanding higher wages. |
| Violence would not solve the problem, government spokesman Luc Chatel told Europe-1 radio, urging both workers and employers to resume stalled salary negotiations. | Violence would not solve the problem, government spokesman Luc Chatel told Europe-1 radio, urging both workers and employers to resume stalled salary negotiations. |
| Mr Chatel said a return to calm was "the most important thing". | Mr Chatel said a return to calm was "the most important thing". |
| The protests and strikes have brought the islands to a standstill. They escalated on Tuesday night as protesters burned cars and looted buildings in Pointe-a-Pitre and Sainte-Anne. | The protests and strikes have brought the islands to a standstill. They escalated on Tuesday night as protesters burned cars and looted buildings in Pointe-a-Pitre and Sainte-Anne. |
| Three police were injured as they came under fire from the looters and more than a dozen arrests were made. | Three police were injured as they came under fire from the looters and more than a dozen arrests were made. |
| FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | |
| Guadeloupe's airport was closed on Tuesday as workers could not pass through debris-clogged roads. | Guadeloupe's airport was closed on Tuesday as workers could not pass through debris-clogged roads. |
| Thousands of tourists - an important source of revenue - have cancelled their holidays in Guadeloupe and Martinique. | Thousands of tourists - an important source of revenue - have cancelled their holidays in Guadeloupe and Martinique. |
| The islands have a high cost of living and use the euro. | The islands have a high cost of living and use the euro. |
| Correspondents say many residents feel their salaries are not keeping up with rising prices. | Correspondents say many residents feel their salaries are not keeping up with rising prices. |
| Are you in Guadeloupe? Are you affected by the issues in this story? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Guadeloupe? Are you affected by the issues in this story? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |