Votes counted in New Caledonia referendum

Voters in New Caledonia turned out in large numbers on Sunday to decide wher archipelago in South Pacific should get independence from France and break ties that were first established in mid-19th century. Sunday's independence referendum is part of a three-dece decolonization effort aimed at settling tensions on archipelago between native Kanaks seeking independence and residents willing to remain in France. More than 180,000 voters were invited to answer question: “Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?”

In umea, capital, large lines of people waited to vote under hot sun, sometimes for hours.Almost 80% of voters h alrey cast ir ballots one hour before poll stations closed, according to French Ministry of Overseas.Across archipelago, horns and cheers could be heard all day in streets, and some people waved pro-independence flags in a relaxed atmosphere.

FLNKS movement leing independence campaign called on its supporters to stay “calm and respectful.”Polling stations closed at 6 p.m. (9 a.m. in mainland France).Results are expected later on Sunday.If voters choose independence, a transition period will immediately begin so that archipelago can get rey for its future status.Orwise, New Caledonia will remain a French territory.

Roland Andreani, 59-year-old resident of umea voted against independence because "we kw that our (health) system is largely financed by France. re is education. We are t rey at all to be independent at current."Yvan Paita, a 25-year-old resident of umea, however, voted yes "because people have been fighting for that for generations, so we'll t stop fight."

Two years ago, 56.4% of voters who participated in a similar referendum chose to keep region's ties with Paris.Both referendums are final steps of a process that started 30 years ago after years of violence that pitched pro-independence Kanak activists against those willing to remain in France.

archipelago w counts 270,000 inhabitants, including both native Kanaks, who once suffered from strict segregation policies and widespre discrimination, and descendants of European colonizers.New Caledonia became French in 1853 under Emperor Napoleon III - Napoleon’s nephew and heir - and was used for deces as a prison colony.It became an overseas territory after World War II, with French citizenship granted to all Kanaks in 1957.

(Im Credit: AP)