Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid on January 7 called on Moslems, especially in the strive-tornarea of Maluku province not to kill each other for the sake of certain political interest.

"Religion has been used as a political instrument to control another Moslem," the president said in a dialog with Moslems after Friday prayers.

Wahid said that he has instructed the newly-installed Indonesian Police Chief Let. Gen. Rusdihardjo to seize whoever comes to Maluku with weapons.

He said Maluku has already been put under a special control command headed by the regional military commander.

Stern actions were needed but the government has had no plan to impose an emergency status for the region, he said.

The Indonesian Defense Force (TNI) headquarters said that altogether there have been 8,000 additional army troops deployed in North Maluku to support about 1,000 personnel of the police and military troops in maintaining security in the district.

Community clashes which erupted in a number of sub-districts in northern Halmahera island of the North Maluku district have reportedly claimed hundreds of lives and damaged various government and public facilities.

Located about 2,400 kilometers northeast of Jakarta, the Maluku province covers 86,000 square kilometers.

The clashes first erupted on January 19 last year on the island of Ambon following a dispute between a public transport driver and a migrant. The violence has since spread to at least five other islands in the Maluku archipelago, once noted for its religious harmony.

According to the military, a year of conflict between Muslims and Christians in the islands have left more than 1,134 dead, over 2,300 wounded and 8,500 buildings, including 122 places of worship, either damaged or burned.

Tens of thousands have fled their homes, seeking refuge with the local military or elsewhere in the country.