Policemen die in Moluccas attack

There are sporadic clashes between Muslim and Christian gangs

Five Indonesian policemen have been killed in an attack on their security post in the troubled Moluccas.

A spokesman said unidentified gunmen had opened fire on the post, in the village of Loki on Seram island.

There have been sporadic bombings and shootings in the Moluccas in recent years, following a truce in 2002 which ended bloody sectarian violence.

In the three years before the truce, 5,000 people are said to have died in clashes between Muslims and Christians.

Moluccas police spokesman Endro Prasetyo said that about six attackers had raided the mobile paramilitary unit in the early hours of Monday morning.

VIOLENCE IN THE MOLUCCAS Conflict between Christians and Muslims began in 1999 More than 5,000 people killed in two years of fighting Peace deal signed in 2002, but sporadic violence still occurs Muslims say Christians have better jobs Christians threatened by influx of Muslims since the 1970s Flashpoints: The Moluccas

"When they were attacked, the officers were asleep," Mr Prasetyo said.

Police said they had no clues as to who was behind Monday's attack.

"We are having difficulties in identifying them. We don't know the motive yet," Mr Prasetyo told Reuters news agency.

"We found an old rifle, bullet shells and homemade bombs. I think there is a party who wants to provoke a situation," he said.

Military chief Major General Syarifudin Summah said a team of soldiers had been dispatched to Loki to help with the investigation.