ABRI members arrested

DILI, East Timor: Three Armed Forces (ABRI) personnel have been arrested on charges of insulting Catholics during a religious ritual in Remixio village near here.

A local military spokesman, Maj. Ladean Simbolon, said yesterday the three were being held in the local military police detention house.

Witnesses said that on Wednesday the three officers angered the worshipers during a mass in a Remixio church when they trampled on the bread they received from the preacher.

Offended worshipers then beat them black and blue before the officers escaped.

Local councilor Antonio Freitas Parada and Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo have expressed concern over the incident.(yac/05)