French police reopens blocked port

French police have reopened a port blocked by striking workers to allow food and medicines into Corsica, as rising tensions on the island put Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin to the test.

Police in riot gear, backed by armoured vehicles, moved into the main port of Ajaccio and removed union members from a ship they had occupied to protest against the privatisation of a ferry operator to the island.

Other ports on the island, where separatists have carried out low-key attacks since the 1970s, remained blocked and the atmosphere was tense as thousands of Corsicans took to the streets to stage protests.

The first of four ferries sent to collect around 15,000 stranded tourists set off from Ajaccio.