Morotai murderers identified

TERNATE, North Maluku: Police have identified 32 people involved in an attack on Morotai island which left two people dead, dozens injured and 300 homes and three churches torched.

Local security officials said a number of those implicated were outsiders opposed to peace in Maluku where religious conflict has claimed more than 5,000 lives since 1999.

The state-owned Antara news agency report did not elaborate on the identity of the attackers, if they were being detained or if they were likely to face charges.

Tens of military personnel and police were deployed in the villages immediately after the attack.

The situation in Morotai island is slowly returning to normal after Wednesday's attack in which 3000 petrified islanders were forced to hide in the jungle to escape the onslaught. --Antara