A day of demonstrations on the Mediterranean island of Corsica has ended with fire fighters being called to the offices of the regional president to put out a blaze.

Around a 100 protesting nationalists who had earlier occupied the building were led away by police.

The French island regularly faces small scale disturbances thought to be organised by nationalists calling for independence from Paris.

Earlier protesters demonstrated inside the island’s assembly building, condemning what they described as the repression of the people of Corsica.

There has been a recent upsurge in unrest on the Island after last months jailing of a nationalist for the killing of a Corsican prefect back 1998. Ivan Colonna was sentenced to life in prison but continues to protest his innocence.

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