Tensions rise in Ambon as bomb explodes, Governor's office set on fire 

JAKARTA (JP): An angry crowd set the governor's office on fire in the restive Maluku capital of Ambon on Wednesday following a bombing earlier in the day, reports said.

Thousands of people were still gathered around the burning office around noon local time, shortly after a huge explosion on Jl. Kapitan Hulu Paha in Ambon left at least 15 people injured, Antara reported.

Police and troops fired warning shots to disperse the crowd after stones were thrown, as security forces tried to contain the Muslim and Christian crowds in separate areas while firefighters tried to fight the fire.

It was not immediately clear who started the fire, but the locals apparently were angry with the bombing incident which took place in a relatively neutral area in Ambon.

This is the worst violence since a Malino peace pact in February apparently ended three years of bloody Muslim-Christian clashes in the city and in other parts of the Maluku islands.

It was reported that witnesses saw the bomb thrown from a speeding red Kijang van on Jl. Kapitan Hulu Paha, before it sped off toward Jl. Sultan Hairun, near the gubernatorial office.

The huge explosion injured people walking on the street, anddestroyed several sidewalk stalls as well as shattering the windows of the six-story Amboina Hotel.

The victims of the blast were rushed to GPM (Protestant Maluku Church) Hospital, Bhakti Rahayu Private Hospital and another nearby hospital.

No immediate statement was available from securityauthorities and Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina himself, as his whereabouts was still unknown. Security sources said that he was brought to safety soon after the fire broke out.