Police Deny Houses Being Burned In Pursuing Papua Rebels

Jayapura, August 22 (ANTARA) - Police strongly denied report that they had burned down villagers` houses in the process of pursuing a group of rebels in the Paniai regency on Tuesday. Pania police chief Coms. Anthon Diantje said there were exchanges of fires between police troop and armed rebels on Tuesday but no house was burned. Police are pursuing the armed gang which shot dead a police officer brig. Yohan Kasimatau on Tuesday morning in Enarotali, the municipal city of Paniai. Anthon said on Wednesday morning police saw a group of rebels in the mountains near Enarotali, but no shot was fired. He said the pursuit was not easy with the difficult terrain in the heavily forested mountainous areas. In addition, the rebels might have mingled with the people, he said.