Ambon – The riot-torn Indonesian city of Ambon was gripped by tension Tuesday, with troops posted at key trouble spots amid rumours Moslems were gearing up for a protest and the discovery of the bodies of a man and a woman stabbed to death.

A resident source said the bodies of Lucas Domingus Paliama, 34, and Merlene Sitanala, 30, were found early Tuesday in Ambon's Air Kuning village, the latest victims of Moslem-Christian violence that has claimed more than 150 lives since mid-January.

"The two bodies were found today but it is unclear on when their exact time of death," the source who requested anonymity told AFP.

Paliama died of stab wounds to his head and neck. Sitanala's body had been claimed by her family, he said. There was no official confirmation of the couple's religion but their names indicated they were Christian.

Many groups of Moslems and Christians in the devastated city blocked off streets with makeshift barricades in anticipation of new eruptions of violence, residents said.

"There are rumours that the Moslems are going to hold a peaceful protest today, although nothing has happened yet. But it has caused tension throught the city," a man from the Ambon Cathedral who identified himself only as Benny told AFP by phone.

Police and military sources could not be immediately contacted for comment on the Moslem demonstration plans, which were believed to stem from four killings on Monday.

[On March 1, Reuters reported that armed forces cheif General Wiranto had launched a crack anti-riot force to quell the most "brutal rioting" in Indonesian history. The 3,300-strong force will be raised from the army, police, navy, airforce and intelligence agency. He said the elite force would be rushed to trouble spots, isolate the unrest to prevent it spreading and then quell the strife. Intelligence officers will seek to determine who caused the trouble - James Balowski.]