20000323

Five killed

in Indonesia

JAKARTA: Fresh violence broke out between Christians and Muslims in eastern Indonesia killing five people and injuring dozens more, news reports said on Wednesday.

Local military chief Maj. Puguh said, the fighting started on Monday between two communities on Halmahera island, about 2,650 kilometres (1,650 miles) northeast of Jakarta, the official Antara news agency reported.

He said hundreds of troops have been deployed to the area and peace has since been restored. Puguh, who like many Indonesians only uses one name, did not say what triggered the violence.

North Maluku is part of Maluku or Noluccas archipelago, which was known as the Spice Islands during the Dutch colonial era.

The sectarian violence has claimed nearly 3,000 lives since it erupted in January last year.ÑAP