Protests disrupt French Guiana, prompt US travel warning

Large protests have spread throughout French Guiana, blocking roads to neighboring Brazil and Suriname and prompting the US government to issue a travel warning Friday for the French territory in South America. Hundreds of people have taken part in protests over high crime, the cost of living and anger at the quality of social services such as health care. The Collective of 500 Brothers, the group largely behind the unrest, is demanding that the French government send a minister to negotiate with them, according to spokesman Ken Saint-Luce. The demonstrations have paralyzed French Guiana in recent days as protesters blocked roads and many businesses and schools have closed. The planned launch on Tuesday of an Ariane 5 rocket from the space center in Kourou, carrying a South Korean satellite and a Brazilian satellite, had to be postponed indefinitely and an Air France flight to Cayenne was diverted back to Paris on Thursday, four hours into its journey. Passengers on board were told the flight was returning because of the social unrest in French Guiana. Flights from regional airlines to Cayenne on Friday were canceled.<br/>