ABC (10/12/01 22:51:12)
Indonesian Jihad leader says his fighters are defending Muslims
The chairman of Indonesia's Central Sulawesi branch of the Laskar Jihad say Islamic
militants involved in the bloody sectarian unrest there, are only defending their fellow
Muslims and are not on a mission to kill Christians.
Abu Umar, told the French newsagency AFP that fighters of Laskar Jihad, which is
based in Java, previously deployed thousands of fighters to help Muslims in Maluku
province, then moved to Sulawesi on a similar mission.
Thousands of Christians in the Poso district east of the provincial capital Palu last
month fled an advance by Muslim militiamen who seized several villages.
The refugees allege the armed attackers chanted Muslim war cries as they bombed,
burned and looted their homes. At least five Christians were killed, with church
officials claiming some 13,000 people have fled their villages.
The government has deployed extra troops to the area to restore law and order.
10/12/01 22:51:12
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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