Three die in Halmahera clash

Three die in Halmahera clash

JAKARTA (Reuters): Three people died in a clash between two villages in Indonesia's eastern Maluku islands, the official Antara news agency reported on Friday.

They were killed on the northern island of Halmahera on Thursday, the agency said. Another 12 were injured. Four houses were also ransacked, two of those set ablaze along with a car.

Security forces were sent to the area to stop the fighting, mostly involving knives and other traditional weapons.

The riot grew out of a minor row between young people from neighboring Bataka and Talaga villages, the regional police head was quoted saying.

Police arrested seven people and seized dozens of traditional weapons, but Lt. Col. Didik Projandono said it was regarded as a criminal case and not political in nature.

Hundreds have died in communal violence in the Maluku this year, but mostly in the south and center of the archipelago, which is also known as the spice islands.