19 Poso riot suspects arrested

POSO, Central Sulawesi: Security personnel have arrested 19 alleged rioters involved in the Poso riots which first broke out on May 23, an official said on Friday.

"The 19 suspects, six of whom belong to the Muslim camp and 13 others from a Christian group, were arrested in seperate operations in the past two days," Poso Police chief Supt. Djasman B. Opu said as quoted by Antara.

According to Djasman, members of the Muslim (also known as White) camp were apprehended when they were assembling weapons in Kayamanya subdistrict in Poso Kota.

While their rivals, the Christian "Red" camp were arrested at Pandayora village in Pamona Selatan district when they tried to leave the compound on a vehicle, the officer said.

Dozens of home-made guns and explosives as well as sharp weapons were seized in the raids.

"We're determined to capture all rioters, despite their religious or ethnic background," he said.(edt)