Gulfnews.com, 12/01/2007 12:00 AM (UAE)
Suspected militants and police officer killed
AP
Jakarta: Police killed two alleged militants yesterday during a raid on restive Sulawesi
Island and a mob then beat to death an officer during the funeral for the pair, police
said.
The violence comes after several months of relative calm on Sulawesi, which was the
scene of bloody fighting between Muslim and Christian gangs six years ago and
sporadic bombings and shootings ever since.
Police raided a house in Poso where nine alleged militants were staying after
receiving information the men were sheltering there, said regional police chief
Brigadier General Badrodin Haiti. He said: "The men hurled at least eight bombs and
opened fire with automatic weapons.
"The two who were killed are believed to be the ones who hurled the bombs," said
police chief General Sutanto, adding that police shot back in self defence and
arrested the other seven militants.
Police seized seven bombs, five automatic weapons, 13 makeshift weapons including
several handguns, and some grenade launchers from the house.
Later, a mob beat to death a police officer assigned to watch over the two men's
funeral, said Poso police chief Lieutenant Colonel Rudy Sufahriadi, giving no more
details.
Sutanto said the two dead men and the seven arrested were wanted by police in
connection with the fighting in central Sulawesi between 2000 and 2001.
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