Troops have been deployed in northern Indonesia after an outbreak of rioting.

Dozens of people are reported to have been injured when violence erupted on Friday in the city of Medan on the island of Sumatra.

Thousands of Muslims demanding the closure of brothels and bars during the fasting month of Ramadan clashed with bar owners and prostitutes.

Security forces dispersed the crowds after giving the brothel owners until tomorrow Monday to suspend business for the rest of Ramadan.

On the island of Sulawesi, crowds went on the rampage after rumours circulated that a Christian man had attacked a Muslim neighbour.

Shops and hotels were damaged before troops and police restored order.

The BBC South East Asia correspondent says sporadic incidents of rioting have become almost commonplace in Indonesia, where tensions fuelled by the worst economic crisis in decades are expected to intensify in the run-up to parliamentary elections next year.