Two people shot dead in Poso

POSO, Central Sulawesi: Two people were killed and eight others were injured during a two-hour gunfight between two groups of people in the village of Pendolo, Pamona district in the regency of Poso, on Wednesday, military sources confirmed on Thursday.

Chief of Poso Military Command Lt. Col. Syamsu Rizal said that the fatalities were identified as Edo, 22, and Edu, 20.

Those injured were now being treated at the house of Dr. Yani in Pendolo, he said.

He also said that some residents' houses were set alight in the incident.

Poso Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Unggun Cahyono said that more personnel had been sent to the conflict area. "But we have not yet identified which group initiated the gun fight."

Poso has been rocked by sectarian clashes between Muslims and Christians. Hundreds have been killed in the clashes, but both the local administration and central government have yet to find a way to stop the violence. (24/sur)