Calm restored in Lembata

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: A number of police officers and Catholic priests managed to calm down an angry mob who surrounded Lembata police station in Lewoleba, East Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday morning after a resident allegedly insulted the holy Eucharist, a local official said.

Deputy East Nusa Tenggara governor Frans Lebu Raya said the situation has returned to normal in Lembata after the intervention of local church leaders and security officers.

"A number of police personnel and priests calmed down the angry crowd, which later dispersed," he said.

Frans said the crowd had demanded that the police hand over the man alleged to have insulted the Eucharist so that they could take action against him.

The deputy governor said the crowd had moved on to a nearby market and damaged the merchandise of some traders, but had not caused a fire.

Police personnel were still standing by in the area on Monday. --Antara