Australia concerned by soldiers' killings in Papua
The Indonesian military says Papuan rebels have shot a helicopter as it attempted to retrieve the bodies of soldiers killed yesterday.
Indonesia's chief security Minister Djoko Suyanto says eight soldiers were killed in two attacks carried out by seperatists in the restive province yesterday.
A gunman in the Puncak Jaya region killed one soldier and Mr Djoko says intelligence suggests the shooter was part of a group led by a man called Goliat Tabuni.
In another attack, seven soldiers were killed at the Sinak Military Resort Command.
But as a military helicopter flew in to retrieve some of the bodies it came under fire.
Military spokesman Iskandar Sitompul told journalists the evacuation had to be aborted because rebels shot at the Super Puma helicopter.
The attack broke a window and gave one of the flight crew a minor injury.
The Government has ordered that those responsible for the soldiers' deaths be found and brought to justice.
Meanwhile, Australia's Ambassador to Indonesia, Greg Moriarty, has released a statement expressing deep concern, adding the violence is detrimental for the people of Papua and West Papua.
Mr Moriarty also conveyed condolences to the victims' families on behalf of Australia.