Tribal battle shuts PNG gold mine
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A land dispute is believed to have sparked tribal violence that has left three people dead and hundreds homeless in Papua New Guinea.
Among the dead is a disabled man who was burnt alive in a house near the town of Wau, in the eastern Morobe province.
A gold mine has suspended production in the unrest.
Disagreement between two tribes concerning ownership rights of the Hidden Valley mine in the eastern Morobe province escalated into violence at the weekend.
Several people were treated for shotgun wounds after hundreds of armed men from the Watut tribe raided villages inhabited by the Biangai people.
"There's about more than 50 houses have been burnt - even business, people lost business like stores and coffee - everything got burnt down," says local MP Sam Basil.
The national government has provided money for temporary housing and to maintain a large police presence in the area.
The Biangai and Watut tribes have been locked in an ownership dispute over the 2,000-hectare gold mine at the McAdam National Park.
The Watut launched a dawn raid last Saturday against the Biangai, mobilising a force of at least 500 men and women.
Sporadic confrontation continued on Sunday.
The conflict has not been resolved but police say tensions have calmed and a riot squad has been put into the area.
The gold mine was due to reopen operations today.
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