ABC AUSTRALIA, Saturday, May 28, 2005. 1:12pm (AEST)
Blasts rock Indonesian market
At least 19 people were killed on Saturday in two bomb attacks in the Indonesian
province of Central Sulawesi, according to police.
The successive blasts took place in the town of Tentena at a busy street market, said
Wayan, a policeman from the neighbouring town of Poso.
"A team of investigators are already in Tentena to investigate the case," he told AFP.
More than 20 others were injured and have been taken to a hospital in Tentena, said
Wayan.
Tentena is a predominantly Christian town that has witnessed intermittent violence
between Christians and Muslims over the past five years.
Sectarian fighting in Central Sulawesi began in 2000 and left more than 1,000 people
dead before the government brokered a peace deal in December 2001.
The settlement, however, has failed to bring a halt to the violence and sporadic
incidents of shootings and bombings have continued.
Saturday's attack was the most deadly incident since the peace deal.
A series of bombs blasts in April damaged two offices belonging to organisations that
promote peace in Poso but there were no casualties.
- AFP
©2005 ABC
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