District chief's house attacked

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The governor will send a special team to investigate a mysterious incident in which a Molotov cocktail was hurled at the house of the Napabalono district chief in Muna regency.

"I've heard about the case and will soon send a team to investigate," Governor Kaimoeddin said yesterday.

Kaimoeddin learned about the incident while attending a meeting with Napabalono district chief Ali Tanda who explained the recent success of his officials in foiling a large timber smuggling ring and the Molotov cocktail incident.

On Friday night someone hurled a Molotov cocktail at the house of the district chief. No one was injured and there was minor damage to the property.

The governor did not specify what the team would do but said he had instructed all officials in the Muna regency to look into the incident.

Ali Tanda said he was woken at about 1 a.m. by an explosive sound. He rushed into his living room and saw broken glass and smelled gasoline in the room.

"Luckily I didn't sleep there. I often fall asleep there with my children after watching television," Ali remarked as quoted by Antara.

He refused to speculate on the reason for the incident and would not directly attribute it to the foiling of the smuggling ring.