FILE PHOTO: A policeman waits for the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron at the central police station in Noumea, France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia on May 23, 2024. LUDOVIC MARIN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
(Reuters) - Three Pacific Islands leaders on a fact-finding visit to New Caledonia heard divided views on the cause of deadly riots that erupted in May, as the region's diplomatic group seeks to support efforts to de-escalate tensions in the French Pacific territory.
The Pacific Islands Forum said in a statement on Wednesday that the delegation, including Tonga Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, and Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, had met religious leaders, mayors, women's representatives and educators on the last day of the visit that ended on Tuesday.
