Police on the Indonesian island of Lombok have been told to shoot rioters on sight, after three days of communal unrest.

Gangs of Muslims have been roaming the streets, burning premises owned by Christians and other non-Muslims.

The government says two people have been killed, and it has appealed for calm.

Hundreds of extra police and troops have been sent to Lombok, but the BBC correspondent in Indonesia says it's clear that the violence is out of control.

Thousands of people have already left the island, including fifty Australians evacuated by their own government.

Other foreigners are expected to follow soon. Our correspondent says the trouble was sparked by the recent fighting between Christians and Muslims in the nearby Moluccan islands, where hundreds of people have been killed since the end of last month.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service