Jakarta – Two Muslims accused of spying for Christian militias were lynched on Wednesday by Muslim mobs in the war-ravaged Ambon town.

One of the victims was hanged in front of the town's main mosque, while the other was beaten to death at the local seaport, said Mr Malik Selang, a spokesman for the Al-Fatah mosque in Ambon. He said the two victims were suspected to be paid spies for the Christian side.

Meanwhile, snipers shot dead one soldier and wounded another in Ambon on Monday, said a military spokesman. Maluku and nearby North Maluku provinces have been plagued by Muslim-Christian violence, which has claimed nearly 4,000 lives since January 1999.