26 Apr 2004

Death toll in shooting in Indonesian province of Papua reaches five

7:32 am on 26 April 2004

Indonesian police have reportedly shot dead five alleged separatists and wounded two during a clash in the province of Papua.

Police had earlier said they shot dead two rebels belonging to a splinter group of the separatist Free Papua Organisation.

The Chief of police for the Manokwari area told the Kompas Daily that soliders had found three more bodies and two wounded men.

The wounded were flown to hospital by helicopter.

The ABC says the group, armed with bow and arrows, is reported tohave ambushed two men from a timber company and a police escort last week.