France to lift state of emergency in bid to allow talks in riot-hit New Caledonia

France on Tuesday lifted a state of emergency in its Pacific territory of New Caledonia but is maintaining a curfew and sending hundreds of paramilitary reinforcements after two weeks of unrest in which seven people died, and hundreds were injured. France’s plan to give voting rights to thousands of non-indigenous long-term residents has sparked riots as indigenous Kanaks say it would dilute the influence of their votes.

France declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia due to deadly riots stemming from protests against electoral reform. The unrest erupted over a bill...