France's Overseas Ministry said four people have been killed and another 23 injured in a conflict over an increase in airline ticket prices on Mare, an island in the South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia. The ministry said four were shot Saturday as two groups of about 300 people each faced off outside the Mare airport. One group was made up Air Caledonia users, there to protest the carrier's recent hike in airfares. The other group tried to break up the protest, AP reported. Some of those injured are in serious condition. Police reinforcements have been deployed to the island, and the ministry said top French officials will hold a meeting in Paris about the clash Sunday.
