Reports from the Indonesian city of Ambon say at least seven more people have died in a fifth day of sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians.

The latest deaths bring the total killed since Saturday to at least seventeen.

Some of those killed were shot by Indonesian security forces attempting to separate the two sides, while others were caught in fighting or trapped in burning buildings.

Local media reported that mobs were roaming the streets setting fire to houses, shops and cars. Christian and Muslim leaders have each accused the security forces of supporting the other side. The Indonesian army has sent troop reinforcements to the area, where more than three-hundred people were killed in a previous outbreak of sectarian violence earlier this year.