FRENCH President Francois Hollande ordered an investigation yesterday into the death of a protester during a weekend demonstration against a dam project in the south-west of the country.

Mr Hollande called for “the full truth of what happened during this violent demonstration and the cause of death” to be revealed.

The body of 21-year-old Remi Fraisse was discovered on Sunday morning after a protest in which several hundred demonstrators clashed with police in Lisle-sur-Tarn near Albi.

An autopsy found that a large wound on his back had been caused by some kind of explosion, but investigators haven’t concluded who or what caused it.

The death has sparked days of protests by opponents of the dam, whom the government accuses of “politicising” the tragedy.

There was violence in Albi, Nantes and Rennes as hundreds of people protested against Mr Fraisse’s death.

Peaceful protests were also held in Paris, Brest, Lyon and Marseille.

More than 600 demonstrators walked through the streets of Nantes carrying banners calling for solidarity against police violence.

There were disturbances in Albi as well, where 1,000 people rallied in the city centre chanting: “Remi, Remi we won’t forget you.”

Mr Fraisse died following a demonstration against the Sivens dam project late on Saturday.

Opponents of the dam scheme say that it will harm the environment, but officials insist that it is necessary to boost the local economy.

A crowd of 2,000 people had gathered peacefully, but fighting broke out later, in which he was fatally wounded, possibly by a grenade thrown by police.

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