Guadeloupe protests turn deadly

Protesters threw stones at lines of police from behind burning barricades

France has appealed for calm on its Caribbean island of Guadeloupe after a local official died during protests against the rising cost of living.

The union representative was shot dead as he drove up to a barricade set up by youths in Guadeloupe's biggest town, Pointe-a-Pitre, local officials said.

Earlier, police had responded after coming under a barrage of stones from protesters who burned cars in the town.

Several were reportedly injured as police used tear gas to disperse them.

In recent days, the month-long general strike on Guadeloupe has spread to the French island of Martinique, 160km (100 miles) to the south, where looting has been reported amid thousands-strong rallies demanding higher wages.

Violence would not solve the problem, government spokesman Luc Chatel told Europe-1 radio, urging both workers and employers to resume stalled salary negotiations.

Mr Chatel said a return to calm was "the most important thing".

The protests and strikes have brought the islands to a standstill. They escalated on Tuesday night as protesters burned cars and looted buildings in Pointe-a-Pitre and Sainte-Anne.

Three police were injured as they came under fire from the looters and more than a dozen arrests were made.

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Guadeloupe's airport was closed on Tuesday as workers could not pass through debris-clogged roads.

Thousands of tourists - an important source of revenue - have cancelled their holidays in Guadeloupe and Martinique.

The islands have a high cost of living and use the euro.

Correspondents say many residents feel their salaries are not keeping up with rising prices.