15 Nov 2004

Separatists in Indonesian province of Papua kill police officer, injure 12 others

6:13 am on 15 November 2004

Separatist rebels have attacked a convoy of local government officials and legislators in the Indonesian province of Papua, killing a police officer and injuring 12 officials.

About 100 members of the Free Papua Movement armed with traditional weapons ambushed the group who were returning from the Puncak Jaya district.

The attackers took away the body of the policeman and seriously wounded three members of parliament in the incident.

The provincial military chief says police and soldiers are pursuing the separatists.

The officials had been returning from visiting refugees who had fled their villages last month after the rebels killed six migrant workers.