Indonesian Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri has defended herself against accusations that she has not done enough to stop the fighting between Christians and Muslims in the Moluccan Islands.

"If [people] say I've been quiet, that's not true," Megawati was quoted as telling reporters at a Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday gathering at her official residence in central Jakarta.

After she was elected in October, President Abdurrahman Wahid handed Megawati the task of resolving the conflict, which first erupted a year ago on the main island of Ambon.

She called on local people to find a way to peace.

"Community members themselves have to feel that it is their own responsibility [to find peace]," she told the official Antara news agency.

Army fears

The armed forces are now in charge of security in the islands but the military spokesman, Major General Sudrajat, told the BBC that the government was holding them back from imposing order.

Maj Gen Sudrajat said that President Wahid was reluctant to declare martial law for political reasons.

But he warned that the situation would only get worse if a state of emergency was not imposed in the islands.

Quiet but tense

Although it has been generally peaceful throughout the Moluccan Islands during Eid, Ambon remains extremely tense.

A BBC correspondent in the town says that Christians and Muslims are living in distinct zones in a state of virtual war, with people from both sides say they will be killed if they pass into the others' territory.

The atmosphere on the neighbouring island of Halmahera, where hundreds of people were killed early this month, is also brittle.

In North Maluku, thousands of refugees are continuing to pour into the city of Ternate, fearing violence on surrounding islands, said the navy base commander, Colonel Didik Setiyadi.

The atmosphere was peaceful but tense as many of the refugees walked the streets looking for a place to stay, said one local resident.

Despite pitched battles in Ambon, the navy has managed to keep the peace inside the refugee camp.

"There are strict rules here," Col Setiyadi said. "If either the Christians or Muslims break the rules and fight they are out."