22 Nov 2006

Death toll from Tongan riots at six

7:34 pm on 22 November 2006

Tonga police have confirmed that the death toll from the rioting last Thursday is six.

Those people died in the offices of the electricity company Shoreline where a gas cylinder is thought to have exploded.

The police commander, Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi, says there is more rubble still to searched through but police only have reports of six people missing since the riot began.

He says court proceedings for the 42 people so far facing charges over the riots are set to begin next monday.