1,500 troops pulled out of Poso

The Indonesian Military (TNI) began on Friday the process of withdrawing about 1,500 troops from the once strife-torn town of Poso in Central Sulawesi, five months after Muslim and Christian leaders there signed a peace deal.

The troops, who have been deployed in Poso for more than six months, are from military units based in Palu, Manado and Gorontalo, South Sulawesi's Tadulako Military Commander Col. Suwahyuhadji told Antara.

Suwahyuhadji said the pullout showed that the situation in Poso had improved greatly.

"The TNI would not withdraw its troops if there was no guarantee from the Central Sulawesi Police chief that security in Poso was really conducive," he said.

However, homemade bombs exploded in Poso on Tuesday and Wednesday. No casualties were reported.

The blasts occurred at three separate locations in the city: the beach in front of the Hotel Wisata in Lawanga village, the Kayamanya central market and the Lombogia bus terminal.

At least four electronics stores in the Kayamanya market were destroyed by fire as a result of the explosion.

The chief of detectives with the Central Sulawesi Police, Sr. Comr. Tatang Somantri, confirmed the bomb blasts on Thursday, adding that five unexploded bombs were discovered at the Lawanga beach.

He said the bombs were equipped with timers and cables, but were not powerful.

There is as yet no indication who was responsible for the bombings.

The warring Christian and Muslim factions in Poso signed a peace accord last December in the South Sulawesi hill resort of Malino, putting an end to a conflict that erupted in 2000 and cost more than 2,000 lives.

Suwahyuhadji said at least 146 troops from the Palu-based Raksatama Unit 711 would remain in Poso, to back up the 200 troops in the city's military command.

The TNI will not send in replacement troops following the pullout of the 1,500 soldiers from Poso, he added.

He said the pullout had been approved by provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Zainal Abidin Ishak, who is also in charge of the Poso security restoration operation. --JP