13 killed in conflict in Indonesia's Sulawesi

JAKARTA, July 4 (Kyodo) - Indonesian police and military continued a search Wednesday for an armed gang, believed to be Christians, in a forest in central Sulawesi after at least 13 Muslims, including women and a baby, were hacked to death.

A local police commander told the state-run news agency Antara the killers also burned a Muslim refugee camp and a mosque.

According to the commander, dozens of people have been killed and many others have been forced to flee since renewed violence escalated on the island three weeks ago.

He said a lack of security personnel and resources have prolonged the religious conflict that has claimed hundreds of lives since May last year.

AP-NY-07-04-01 0555EDT

Copyright 2001 The Kyodo News Service.