Machete rampage on Lombok

Police and military reinforcements have been sent to quell violence on the Indonesian island of Lombok after fighting between rival villages left at least seven people dead.

The fighting broke out on Wednesday between two neighbouring villages and escalated rapidly, culminating in a battle with machetes and home-made guns.

The incident apparently flared up after a dispute over radio communications equipment which was stolen last month.

The security forces say the situation in Lombok, a popular destination for foreign tourists, is now under control.

Riots also broke out there a year ago, when Muslim crowds went on the rampage, causing thousands of local Christians and foreign tourists to flee the island.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service