Jakarta - The Indonesian President, Mr Abdurrahman Wahid, said yesterday he had banned outsiders from entering the Maluku islands in an effort to quell the Muslim-Christian violence in which thousands have died in the past 18 months.
Mr Wahid said the situation there was "out of control". As he spoke, an outbreak of fierce street fighting in the city of Ambon left at least 20 dead and more than 100 wounded, hospitals and reports said.
Scores of houses were burned, and the telecommunications complex, the state electricty company building, a Christian university and several mosques were in flames, state television said.)