Austrian tourist, wife beaten by islanders

TERNATE, North Maluku: Austrian tourist Marcus Hobbler, 29, and his Indonesian wife, Megawati Mangunsong, 21, were kidnapped and beaten on Thursday by several people in Dorarisa village on the island of Hiri, Antara reported.

Local police chief Prijandono confirmed the incident on Saturday.

Hobbler said at Ternate Hospital -- where he and his wife were admitted with injuries -- that they were visiting a beach near Sulamanda village when a man approached them and asked if they wanted to see a beautiful lake on the top of the mountain on Hiri island, 17 kilometers north of Ternate.

After having only been on the island for a short time, a number of local people suddenly appeared and took the couple prisoner, Hobbler said.

"They tied up our wrists, hit us in the head, hands and other parts of our bodies," he said. (swe)