Shops ransacked as protests rock French Caribbean island of Martinique

Looters ransacked shops overnight on the French Caribbean island of Martinique as violent protests against rising living costs showed little sign of abating despite the imposition of a curfew.

The Martinique local administration said two petrol stations had been ransacked and businesses inside a shopping centre were also vandalised and robbed.

French overseas territories such as Martinique, Guadeloupe and New Caledonia have often been hit by civil unrest due to complaints that living standards are well below those of mainland France.