30 Jul 2014

Two Indonesian police killed in Papua

1:39 pm on 30 July 2014

Papua's regional police have vowed to track down the killers of two police officers in the Indonesian province.

The officers, named as Zulkifli and Prayoga, were shot during an ambush in the regency of Lanny Jaya.

The Antara news agency says the regional police command chief, Brigadier General Yotje Mende, has promised to chase the killers and says the police will not surrender to armed groups.

Two other police officers sustained wounds in the incident, which happened as the police were carrying out a community counselling programme.

The police say Papua remains a hot spot for the country, with separatist rebels hiding in mountain jungles waiting for an opportunity to attack.

Police have accused the armed separatists of inciting locals in isolated areas to join them against the Indonesian government.