Neighborhood chief murdered

INDONESIA: The chief of a neighborhood unit in Jambi province was stabbed to death on Friday night by a resident infuriated by the "unfair" disbursement of cash aid. The aid is being disbursed to the nation's poorest people under a government scheme to offset the effects of the Oct. 1 fuel price increases.

The murder follows a spate of violent attacks directed at local government officials in other areas across the nation over the cash assistance.

A senior police officer said that Saman, the chief of Sungai Benit in Bungo here, had been locked in a heated argument with a resident, Hendri, whose name was missing from the list of aid recipients.

During the angry exchange, Hendri stabbed Saman in his abdomen, causing his death, said Bungo Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Joko Irwanto. Hendri has been arrested. -- Antara