Police and army reinforcements arrived in Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province today after the government promised a crackdown to end violence between Christians and Muslims.
Some 80 members of the elite Brimob police unit landed at the airport of the capital Pula, the first batch of an extra 2,600 soldiers and police the government is sending to curb fighting in the Poso district.
Violence between Muslim and Christian groups erupted in Poso last year and has killed over 300 people and left tens of thousands homeless.
Security minister Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has promised a six-month operation to restore peace, returned to Jakarta after visiting the restive towns of Poso and Tentena yesterday.
The minister said five battalions of police and soldiers - at least 3,250 men - would be deployed in the security operation. "Four battalions will conduct the operations while one will be a reserve battalion".
In the latest reported violence, a man was killed and four people injured after 300 Muslim protesters clashed with security personnel in Poso town on Monday, police said.
The crowd accused the army of detaining six missing Muslims and demanded their release. The military has denied the claim.
One of the six men was found dead in Poso river yesterday.
AFP