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17 Killed in Military, Police Raids in Ambon, Indonesia
At least 17 persons were killed, including a member of the Army's elite special force (Kopassus), and 30 others injured in a fresh joint military and police raid in Ambon, capital of Indonesia's Maluku province, on Thursday.
The sweeping operation was conducted following a massive armed attack by rioters on predominantly-Christian area of Wisma Gonzalo in Karang Panjang on Tuesday, in which five were killed and dozens of others injured, according to the Jakarta Post Saturday.
A member of Kopassus was killed during an ambush launched by rioters in Kebon Cengkih area on Thursday, Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa said in a joint media briefing in Ambon on Friday.
Eight other joint battalion members suffered gunshot wounds during the attack, he added.
The joint battalion, accompanied by the Police Mobile Brigade, was subsequently engaged in an all-day gunfight with rioters, killing at least 16 attackers and injuring 20 others, Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Edi Darnadi said.
Maluku and North Maluku provinces have witnessed conflicts between Muslims and Christians in the past two years, killing and wounding thousands of people from two sides. The situation has improved since the government imposed a civilian emergency in the areas in June 2000.
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