Indonesian police say 21 people have died in election-related violence in Papua. Clashes between hundreds of supporters of rival election candidates killed 17 people and injured dozens in remote Puncak district on Sunday.
Local police chief Alex Korwa Armed says they were armed with machetes, rocks and arrows and the mobs torched houses and cars. He says dozens of extra police and soldiers have been sent to secure the area and the situation is tense but under control.
The recently created district, which is only accessible by plane, is scheduled to hold its first local elections on November the 9th.
In a separate incident today, unknown gunmen shot dead four people including a soldier and wounded at least seven others in an attack on a minibus in Abepura district.
Papua provincial police spokesman Wachyono says the attackers blocked a road near Nafri village and shot at the passengers inside the bus.
Full Article: Australia Network News:Stories:Election violence leaves 21 dead in Indonesia.