960401

Jakarta to take

firm steps

against rioters

JAKARTA: Indonesia says it will take firm measures against anyone found to have masterminded rioting last week in the South Sulawesi capital of Ujung Pandang, the official Antara news agency said on Saturday.

"Anybody proven to have committed an act of violating the law in the event will be dealt with legally and face the prescribed firm measures," Lieutenant-General Soeyono, armed forces chief of general staff, was quoted as saying on Friday.

The Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (LBH) said in a statement on Friday that six people died during the protests, which was put down by security forces.

But Soeyono was quoted by Antara as saying on Friday that only three people died after they drowned in a river near one university campus while trying to avoid security personnel sent to quell the protest.-Reuter