News In Brief

Some progress seen in session on Israeli exit from LebanonOfficial says France will hew to New Caledonian balloting

Georges Lemoine, minister of French overseas territories, said Monday that France will not be swayed by ballot burning and other election violence by natives seeking independence for this island group.

White settlers on New Caledonia won a decisive victory in Sunday's elections, while Melanesian natives demanding independence from France next year boycotted the polls, torched polling stations, and clashed with police, according to reports.

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