The World : 3 French Officers Killed

At least three French police officers were killed in the South Pacific territory of New Caledonia, apparently by Melanesian separatists, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. said. The station, reporting from the capital of Noumea, quoted government radio as saying the gendarmes were shot to death on the outer island of Ouvea, 90 miles away. The territory’s indigenous Melanesians--known as Kanaks--are seeking independence for New Caledonia, which has a population of 145,000. Many of the Melanesians have vowed to boycott this weekend’s regional elections, which coincide with the presidential balloting in France.