U.S. envoy visits Maluku

AMBON, Maluku: United States consul general Robert A. Pollard held a briefing with civil emergency administrators in Maluku on Tuesday to discuss the province's security condition.

The envoy met with Pattimura Military chief of staff Col. Syarifuddin Sumah at the Pattimura Military headquarters in Batu Gajah area on Tuesday for about one hour.

Syarifuddin told Pollard that the situation in North Maluku province was relatively calm, but in Maluku, and especially in the capital of Ambon, the situation was "quite restive".

"The situation is relatively calm now but an incident can occur any time," Syarifuddin said.

The envoy also asked about the June 14 incident which killed at least 20 people, including an army officer, and injured some 30 others. (49)