Five die in clash in Indonesia's Sulawesi

Sep 1, 2010, 6:09 GMT

Jakarta - At least five civilians died from gunshot wounds after police opened fire during clashes with residents in Indonesia's province of Central Sulawesi, a media report said Wednesday.

Thousands of angry demonstrators attacked a police station in the Buol district town of Biau late Tuesday, after the death of a motorist in police custody one day earlier, the state-run Antara news agency reported.

Kashmir Timumun reportedly died on Monday hours after he was arrested following a traffic accident which involved a member of the local police. The family alleged he died from mistreatment.

In an attempt to stop the attacks and disperse the crowd, the police fired shots that killed two protestors and seriously wounded several others.

The death toll rose to five after three of the wounded died in hospital, Brigadier General Amin Saleh, chief of the Central Sulawesi police, was quoted as saying.

Saleh said at least 19 policemen were injured, adding that angry residents attacked officers with stones, sharp weapons and Molotov cocktails.

Early Wednesday angry residents attacked police officers' homes in retaliation for the deaths.

The angry mob destroyed other property belonging to the police, including setting several vehicles on fire, the report said.

Authorities deployed five more combined platoons of soldiers and police to Biau to help restore order.