Five Papua New Guinea villagers are dead and several others have been injured in a tribal fight in the Lumusa area of Western Highlands Province.
The men died after they were ambushed by rival tribesman.
Local MP and police minister, Sani Rambi, condemned the attack and has called for calm.
The provincial police commander in Western Highlands, Superintendent Thomas Eluh, says it's unclear eactly what happened.
"There was trouble fighting between two clans and it has escalated to a situation where about five people have been killed. We have the local level government elections that was conducted in the area recently, it could be linked to that. It could be linked to payback killings that have occured in the area. I'm yet to confirm these things."
Thomas Eluh says police are investigating, and at this stage noone has been arrested.
