Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Walter Zweifel
Road blocks in New Caledonia have been removed after protests and riots over the sale of the Vale nickel plant had cut key roads in the Noumea area for several days.
The disruption, which also forced the cancelation of all international flights, prompted the anti-independence parties to organise a weekend march in central Noumea to denounce the violence.
More than 20,000 people heeded the call in a march, led by the president Thierry Santa.
Last week, Vale of Brazil struck a deal to sell its plant to a Swiss/New Caledonian consortium Prony Resources, which is being opposed by Kanak chiefs and pro-independence parties.
The announcement unleashed territory-wide protests, which turned violent in the Noumea area.
French riot police were deployed in several hotspots while an elite squad was deployed to the Vale plant, which was damaged and forced to shut.
More talks are expected as Paris is being asked to help forge a broadly supported nickel strategy for New Caledonia.
The Loyalty Islands customary leaders have meanwhile banned the French mobile squads from their islands because at the height of the unrest they were allowed to leave their quarantine early.
There has been no community transmission of Covid-19 but in recent weeks several members of the security forces flown in from France have tested positive in quarantine.
Noumea march against blockades and violence Photo: AFP or licensors