Nine people are alleged to have been killed and properties worth hundreds of thousands of kina destroyed in two tribal fights in Enga Province in Papua New Guinea over the past week.
The Post Courier reports that nine people were killed in the lower Lai area of Kompiam and many others were injured.
In addition there were more than 100 houses burnt down, and farm animals, coffee plots, food gardens, trees and cemeteries damaged.
A mobile police squad has been sent into the area which is the site of one of the longest running tribal battles in the region.
A Highlands police commander, Simon Kauba, has appealed to leaders to take the lead in negotiating peace and trying to restore normalcy.
