8 December 2012 Last updated at 09:33 ET

Man killed and homes bombed in fresh Corsica violence

Police are investigating the possible motives for the latest attacks

A man has been shot dead and at least 17 houses bombed in a fresh spate of violence on the French island of Corsica, local officials say.

They identified the man who was gunned down in his car in the town of Calvi on Friday as a recently released convict.

Most of the houses that were attacked were unoccupied holiday homes.

Corsica has long been dogged by violence linked to feuding gangs and also to demands for independence from France.

The shooting death was being treated separately from the bombings.

However, another man had been arrested on Friday in Calvi for possession of explosives, although it was not immediately clear if the later bombings were linked to his case.

Saturday is regarded by some as the island's national day, marking the adoption of the island's constitution in the 18th Century.

At least 19 people have been killed on Corsica this year, including prominent lawyer Antoine Sollacaro in October.

French Interior Minister Manuel Valls, who recently visited the island, has promised Corsicans that "the fight for the security is carried out with the greatest resolve".