December 2001

 





News Brief

Muslim militants force Christians to hide out

SANGGINRA, Indonesia - Thousands of Christians were hiding in jungle-clad mountains on Indonesia's Sulawesi island early this month after their villages were attacked and razed by Muslim militias.

Hundreds of homes were destroyed last month in the latest round of sectarian violence in the region - which has left about 1,000 people dead on both sides in the past two years.

In November, Muslim militants drove away security forces in the area then attacked at least three Christian villages in central Sulawesi, local residents said.