University students protest assault

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Hundreds of Haluoleo University students staged a demonstration on Monday to protest the assault on three students by the local police.

The protesters yelled, burned tires and pelted police officers who tried to approach them, Antara reported.

The demonstration stopped after Kendari police chief Lt.Col. Tholib Rachmad Sudarto came to the campus and talked to the students' senate and a rector's assistant.

Sudarto promised to probe the incident and said he would punish the officers if the beating allegations were correct.

Students said that the assault occurred on Friday night following a student brawl. (sim)