TAHITI: AIRPORT CLOSED AFTER ANTI FRENCH NUCLEAR PROTESTERS RIOT (2) скачать в хорошем качестве

TAHITI: AIRPORT CLOSED AFTER ANTI FRENCH NUCLEAR PROTESTERS RIOT (2)

(7 Sep 1995) English/Nat Rage at France's nuclear test in the South Pacific has boiled over into full-scale riots at Tahiti's airport. Angry demonstrators from the island's Independence Party clashed with French riot police and trashed and burned airport buildings, overturning cars and setting them ablaze. Order was eventually restored, at the cost of several rioters and police being seriously injured. A pall of smoke hung over Tahiti's international airport as police fought to dampen scenes of mayhem. The fire which rioters had earlier started in one of the terminal buildings had been doused but the shells of cars continued to blaze across the airport complex. Nine people were injured in the melee. It should have been the end of a holiday in paradise, but for passengers trying to fly out to Paris and New Zealand it turned into hell. SOUNDBITE (vox pop) Well, more annoyed than really frightened. You know, we had never really been in anything like this. So I was somewhat concerned...I was surprised that it was getting that violent. I thought it might be a more peaceful type demonstration. (man) When I got off the plane I didn't know if the next step that I took the plane would blow up behind me because I had no idea what the capabilities are here. I know that if we had been in America we would all have been dead. (woman) This was a really bad experience, especially for someone's honeymoon. We'd never have thought that it would escalate to that point. I guess I was also shocked at the total mayhem, like nobody knew what to do. (woman) After sunset, hundreds of protesters marched from the airport to downtown Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, smashing shop windows, looting clothing stores, setting a perfumery ablaze, and stoning the territorial assembly building among others. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...