Australia and New Zealand said they will send government planes to New Caledonia to evacuate nationals from the French territory which has experienced a week of deadly riots, sparked by electoral changes by the French government in Paris.

A thousand police arrived in New Caledonia from France and street clashes had calmed, the French High Commission said on Monday, but Australia and New Zealand were unable to send in evacuation flights for tourists stranded on the Pacific island.

French police trying to restore order in the island territory of New Caledonia after days of deadly unrest have cleared dozens of barricades that had been blocking the main road linking the airport to the capital, Noumea, a senior official said.

The French government sent more police to the Pacific island of New Caledonia on Thursday and said it would crack down on rioters, hoping to restore order after three nights of upheaval in which four people have been killed.

France declared a state of emergency on the Pacific island of New Caledonia yesterday after three young indigenous Kanak and a police official were killed in riots over electoral reform.

France sent extra police squadrons to quell riots on the Pacific island of New Caledonia but also opened the door to a negotiated settlement with pro- and anti-independence groups.

The Pacific Island of New Caledonia has been hit by days of rioting and looting as protesters rebel against a proposal by mainland France to amend the constitution.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare said he narrowly won his seat and still exercises power over security in the Pacific Islands nation, as he vies with opposition parties to form government after an election delivered no clear winner.

Solomon Islands faces a nervous wait to establish a government as opposition parties vie with incumbent Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare’s OUR party to form a coalition with independents after a national election failed to produce a clear winner.

Solomon Islands faces a tense wait for an election result after opposition parties pulled ahead of incumbent Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare’s OUR party, as counting on Tuesday showed independents will be key to forming government.

CARETAKER Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has been re-elected for his seventh tenure as the Member of Parliament for East Choiseul.

Voters in the Solomon Islands have cast their ballots in a general election that was being closely watched by Australia, China and the United States for its potential impact on regional security.