Protesters, officials almost come to blows

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: A anti-illegal logging protest on Monday nearly turned into brawl in Kendari, capital of Southeast Sulawesi province.

Dozens of environmental activists had been staging a heated protest outside the Southeast Sulawesi Council, demanding the government to prosecute those people responsible for illegal logging in Muna regency.

A councillor, La Ode Halami, apparently became enraged and yelled at the protesters to leave the vicinity. This angered the activists, who punched the councillor, but the incident was prevented from degenerating into a fistfight by other councillors and council staff. -- JP