Batsia, Corsica, French Territory - As many as 400 masked separatist protesters caring a banner, with only the word "Resistance" on it, attacked police and injured two with what officials called a homemade pipe bombs. Demonstrators also threw flares and stones at police officers, banks and government buildings.

The action was called in response to last Thursday's arrest of Corsica's farmers' union president Joseph Colombani. Police say that Colombani is linked to a separatist attack in Solaro that occurred shortly before the French Interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy's visit last week.

Rioters damaged cars and lit fires in front of several banks and a post office. Riot police used teargas to prevent a mob from storming the town hall and prefecture.