Three killed by pesticides

BOGOR, West Java: An elderly woman and two children from Sinangbhakti village died after taking a drink of coffee contaminated by pesticides.

Mrs. Acih, 50, and her grandchildren, Fitri, 5, and Rudi, 3, were found last Friday in bad condition by neighbors, who then took them to the nearest hospital. Foaming saliva was coming out of their mouths.

Fitri died on Sunday. Her brother and grandmother died the next day.

Chief of the local police office, Nono Supriyono, told Antara that he suspected the coffee was contaminated by pesticides which the farmer's family had kept inside the house.

"The grandmother probably mistook the white pesticide powder for sugar," Nono said. (swe)