France sends troops to Guadeloupe

The French government is to dispatch more than 200 military officers to Guadeloupe after the killing of a protester amid a crippling month long strike.



Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said the Sarkozy government was sending 260 officers as efforts continue to restore calm in Guadeloupe.



Union official, Jacques Bino, was shot dead near a roadblock as armed youth opened fire on police in the island’s commercial centre, Pointe-a-Pitre on Tuesday night.



The head of the group, which has been leading the strike, said the activist was returning from a labour meeting.



Police said at least three officers have been injured in the unrest.



The demonstrations, which had been largely peaceful, turned violent on Monday, when protestors began clashing with police.