Hoodlums clash at Blok M

JAKARTA (JP): Drunken rival hoodlums were involved in a brief brawl early Sunday, causing minor damage to buildings before they were dispersed by the police.

The brawl started after several thugs argued over money to buy liquor at about 2 a.m., a police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

"The rival gangsters began pelting stones at buildings when the police came to intervene. They dispersed as soon as the officers arrived at the scene," the officer said.

The gangland fight triggered fear of uncontrolled brawling possibly developing into a riot, a repeat of the disastrous mid- May violence, he added. (edt)