Indonesian Army slaps curfew in strife-torn Ambon
DEUTSCHE PRESS AGENTUR

JAKARTA, DECEMBER 31: Indonesian military authorities have imposed a night curfew in the strife-torn Eastern city of Ambon in an attempt to stop bloody clashes between Muslims and Christians that have left hundreds of people dead, officials and residents said on Friday.

Lieutenant Colonel Iwa Budiman, a spokesman for the Maluku's military command, said the local residents were banned from going out of their homes for any reason from 10 pm until 6 am (local time).

Residents of Ambon, 2,300 km northeast of Jakarta, said large numbers of government soldiers are patrolling the streets, but this was causing more anxiety than feelings of security. ``Despite the military's control of security from the police since Wednesday, there is no real improvement. Tension remains extremely high here today,''.

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