Gang violence grips French territory

MAMOUDZOU, France (AFP) — On the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, clashes between machete-wielding gangs have left at least one dead, highlighting chronic crime problems that have rung alarm bells in Paris.

In the densely populated main city of Mamoudzou, street battles have struck fear into residents and led the mainland government to send a contingent of elite anti-terror police on Tuesday to help restore order.

A 20-year-old was stabbed to death on 12

November in the northern slum-fringed suburb of Kaweni, and a school bus was attacked in the same area last week.