Two killed in fresh Ambon attack

AMBON, Maluku: Two people were killed on Wednesday morning when a religious procession to hand-in weapons was attacked by a rival group.

Two homemade bombs exploded and shots were fired as the procession passed near the Ambon security post on Jl. A.Y. Patty, despite intervention attempts by soldiers to guard the procession.

Civil Emergency Post's spokesman Maj. Marthen Luther Djari said a bomb killed Pvt. Masdiki.

A civilian, Ongen Kuawe, was also killed by an unknown shooter.

Apart from the two deaths, at least 13 others, all of whom were procession participants and onlookers, were injured.

"The number of fatalities could increase as several of the injured victims were seriously injured," Marthen said.

According to Marthen, the procession was held in order to surrender residents' firearms to the military command. (49/lup)