Jakarta – Indonesian soldiers shot dead at least five people who defied warnings and attacked soldiers attempting to disperse Christian and Muslim mobs from a street in conflict-torn Ambon on Friday, Indonesia's state-run news agency Antara reported Saturday.

Malik Selang, a Muslim leader in Ambon, said five men died in the violence that broke out Friday night and 15 others were injured. "I warned them not to be emotional because if they turned brutal, they would face the security forces," Antara quoted him as saying.

Chief of the Maluku military command Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa defended his soldiers. He said the military was forced to shoot because the soldiers were being attacked with fire-bombs.

More than 3,000 people have died in violence that has pitted Christians against Muslims since January last year. The Malukus are now under a state of civil emergency in which the military can use deadly force when under threat.