At least one mosque was burned and others damaged when crowds rampaged through the predominantly-Christian town.

The BBC's Jonathan Head in Jakarta: Fears of reprisals were justified

The attacks followed a ceremony to commemorate 13 Christians who died during inter-religious fighting last week in the capital, Jakarta.

The riot developed from a protest and strike. The crowd also burned down a market and a Muslim school. There were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests.

The local governor said the armed forces had restored order to the town, but residents described the atmosphere as tense.

President Habibie calls for 'houses of god' to be left alone

The bishop of Kupang apologised to Muslims on behalf of Christians for the attacks.

The Indonesian Council of Mosques appealed to Muslims not to be provoked into revenge attacks.

Trashing equipment belonging to a Christian church in Jakarta

Kupang - situated about 1,900km south-east of Jakarta - lies in a predominantly Christian area of Indonesia, however the population of the country is nearly 90% Muslim.

Earlier on Monday, businesses and schools closed as scores of Christian students protested against rising religious and ethnic tensions.

Community leaders have been pleading for restraint from the public, but their calls appear to have had little impact.

BBC Jakarta Correspondent Jonathan Head says economic hardship is starting to break down the fragile relations between the many different ethnic and religious groups, and disputes are being allowed to escalate because the security forces are too demoralised to intervene.

Jakarta violence

Eight days ago, 13 people were killed in clashes between Muslim and Christian communities in the centre of Jakarta.

A mob armed with knives and spears went on the rampage, setting fire to churches and attacking cars and buildings.

Families grieving over senseless deaths

Reports said Muslims believed a building near a Christian church housed a gambling hall frequented by Christians from the eastern island town of Ambon, and attacked the building in revenge for a rumoured Ambonese assault on a mosque.

Witnesses said some Ambonese Catholics were killed by the mob after they were seen beating a Javanese Muslim to death.

Some in the crowd mutilated the Ambonese bodies as they lay lined up on display on the road.