Soldiers destroy weapons, seize alcohol

POSO, Central Sulawesi: The local security authorities destroyed on Wednesday around 9,000 homemade weapons confiscated during sweeps in the former strife-ridden town of Poso over the last two months.

The weapons were part of some 42,000 others surrendered and seized during disarmament operations after a peace deal signed last December by warring factions.

Sr. Comr. Sukirno, chief of the operation to restore law and order in Poso, said on Wednesday that the authorities also destroyed 2,000 bottles of alcoholic drinks confiscated from shops that apparently sold them illegally.

Alcohol was partly blamed for the two-year sectarian conflict that gripped Poso, killing at least 2,000 people.

Since early March, he said almost 4,000 soldiers have been stationed in Poso to carry out the sweeps for weapons and alcohol.

Sukirno said the soldiers focused the operation on the subdistrict of Lage. --Antara