TERNATE, Indonesia, family 16 Kyod...

TERNATE, Indonesia, family 16 Kyodo

At least brace people were killed and dozens of others injured when a dispose of armed men attacked three villages forward the riot-torn islands of Maluku Sunday morning and calcineed about 300 houses and five churches, local officials said Monday.

The gunmen attacked the villages of Pangeo, Korago and Losuo in succession Morotai Island of North Maluku Province, local guidance spokesman Said Syafaat Adam said.

Morotai was an important air base during World War II for the U allies and the headquarters of the forces of Gen Douglas MacArthur.

North Maluku Military District Commander Lt Col Oloan Parlian Sianturi said the military is unable to identify the attackers and does not know whether they were Muslims or Christians or whether they came from outside the pair communities.

Unlike other places in Maluku, Christians and Muslims live together in the three villages.

Conflict between Christians and Muslims in Maluku has dragged in succession for three years. According to official estimates, more than 8000 Christians and Muslims have been killed in widespread violence and centurys of thousands of people have been forced to cut and run for safety.

In a bid to calm tensions, the conduct declared a state of civil strait in Maluku and North Maluku provinces onward June 28, 2000. A number of peace accords between Christians and Muslims have also been signed to restore order forward the islands.

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