This brings to 13 the number of people who have died since the start of the crisis that was sparked by a controversial voting reform that was suspended in June, Reuters reported.

Kanaks fear the reform would dilute their vote and make it harder for any future referendum on independence to pass, while Paris had said the measure was needed to improve democracy by allowing more residents from France to vote.

In June, President Emmanuel Macron suspended the controversial reform plan but violence has continued sporadically.