Indonesian police kill five in Sulawesi riot

Indonesian police killed villagers when an angry mob ransacked a police station in protest of the death of a man in custody, police said on Wednesday.

Reuters

More than 100 villagers, some carrying rocks and Molotov cocktails, converged on the police post in Buol district in central Sulawesi province late Tuesday, Brigadier General Amin Saleh told the AP wire service.

More than 20 people including policeofficers are reported to have been injured during the clash, which was triggered by the death of a man in custody on Monday.

"We had no choice but to open fire towards the protesters because they were very angry and were burning motorcycles parked outside.. Five people were killed by the shooting," local deputy police chief Dewa Parsana told AFP.

Several hundred policemen have been sent to the area, the state-run Antara news agency reports.

Police spokesman Iskandar Hasan said the shootings were under investigation and "firm action" would be taken against any officer proven to have violated procedures.