3 Bombs Rock Corsica; Separatists’ Talks Denied

Three more explosions shook this French Mediterranean island Monday as the government denied reports it is negotiating secretly with separatists waging a bombing campaign.

The blasts caused heavy damage but no injuries, officials said. The bombings bring to 11 the number of attacks since Jan. 1.

The Paris newspaper Liberation reported over the weekend that secret talks are under way between the government and the National Front for the Liberation of Corsica (FLNC), the island’s most powerful separatist group.

According to sources cited by the newspaper, the government is studying the possibility of granting Corsica a status similar to that enjoyed by overseas territories such as French Polynesia in the South Pacific.

But government spokesman Alain Lamassoure denied the report.

“In a democratic country, what counts are the elected officials. Legitimacy is not gained with kilos of explosives but with votes,” he said.

Corsican Regional Council President Jose Rossi on Monday also classified the reports as “rumors” and “disinformation.”

Two of the explosions targeted the Corse-Mediterranean ferry company (SNCM). In the northern port of Bastia, a 14-ounce bomb blew out the windows of the SNCM office, while in the southern port of Porto-Vecchio, an explosion destroyed an SNCM building.

An organization known as Front Ribellu (Rebellious Front) claimed responsibility for the attack in Bastia.

The third explosion occurred in Corte in central Corsica, where an office was heavily damaged by an explosion.