Outsiders blamed for Poso bombings

Outsiders blamed for Poso bombings

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Police here blamed on Saturday
"outsiders" for the bombings in the riot-torn town of Poso in
Central Sulawesi after a peace deal was signed last December.

"A certain group is trying to worsen the situation in Poso
through bombings," Central Sulawesi Police detective chief Sr.
Comr. Tatang Sumantri said.

He said that based on the local police investigation, the
group had nothing to do with Muslims and Christians involved in
sectarian fighting in Poso, which killed some 2,000 people in two
years since it erupted in 2000.

Tatang could not, however, identify the group he attributed to
the bombing incidents over the last five months, saying nor was
it linked with to the religious conflict in the Maluku islands.

The latest bomb blasts occurred last Tuesday and Wednesday at
three separate locations in Poso.

No casualties were reported. However, at least four
electronics stores in the town's Kayamanya market were destroyed
by fire as a result of the explosion. --Antara