Curfew in Moluccas as violence continues

The authorities in the Indonesian islands of Molucca are taking further steps to try to end the worsening conflict between the Christian and Muslim communities.

They've imposed a night curfew, banned gatherings of more than ten and ordered people to surrender their weapons by the end of the month.

The new measures were brought in as violence broke out again in the city of Ambon, one of the worst trouble spots in the conflict in which thousands have died in the past eighteen months.

This was despite yesterday's declaration by the Indonesian government of a state of civil emergency in the islands.

Aid workers in Ambon for Medecins Sans Frontieres say thousands of people displaced by the fighting are running short of food and medicines and need fresh supply lines to be opened.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service