The Washington Times, May 23, 2004
Five injured in Indonesian bombing
AMBON, , May. 23 (UPI) -- A homemade bomb hided in a cracker can exploded
Sunday in Ambon, an eastern Indonesian town, injuring at least five people.
The blast came one-day after President Megawati Sukarnoputri visited Ambon, the
site of last month's clash between Muslims and Christians that left at least 38 people
dead and dozens of others wounded.
Eyewitnesses told Indonesia's official Antara news agency the bomb was placed in a
cracker can wrapped in a plastic bag, along with two packs of peanuts and two
bottles of beer. It exploded while the victims were trying to open the can.
About 30-minutes later, unidentified attackers threw a second homemade bomb, but
that explosion did not cause any injuries. Police safely detonated a third bomb that
was discovered in the same area.
During a Saturday meeting with religious leaders in Ambon, the capital of Maluku
province, Megawati denied allegations her government is not doing enough to stop a
recent outbreak of Muslim-Christian violence.
Many fear the weekend bombing might trigger a repeat of religious clashes that
claimed the lives of more than 6,000 people between 1999 and 2002.
Copyright 2004 United Press International
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