Policeman fires on soldier

DILI, East Timor: Local military chief Col. Mahidin Simbolon confirmed yesterday reports of an armed clash between a police officer and a soldier over a prostitute.

Simbolon said the incident, involving an officer of a mobile police brigade and an officer of Army Company 744, occurred on the night of Sept. 27 in a red light district in Komoro, about four kilometers west of here.

While there has been no word of casualties, eyewitnesses said the incident provided quite a spectacle for the locals. Details of the argument between the two officers were not immediately available.

Simbolon, meanwhile, told reporters that the episode was so commonplace as to be unremarkable.

"It was a common thing. In Jakarta, such incidents happen almost every day. You journalists should not make it look like something new," Simbolon said.

Eyewitnesses said the incident started when a policeman opened fire on an Army officer. The bullets fired reportedly missed the officer. Shortly afterwards, a company of Army officers came to the policeman's dormitory in connection with the dispute.

Bystanders said the situation was brought under control after Simbolon and East Timor police chief Col. Andreas Sugianto personally intervened. (yac/pan)