Jakarta – The government will maintain the state of civil emergency in the strife torn islands of Maluku as sectarian riots are still raging, Indonesia's top security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said.

"The civil emergency in Maluku and North Maluku is still needed because the situation is not stable yet. Once the situation improves, then we can consider lifting it," the Indonesian Observer quoted him as saying.

He said the best solution to end the prolonged bloodshed in the Spice Islands is to facilitate reconciliation among, and rehabilitation of, warring gangs. "Neither reconciliation nor rehabilitation can be done if the situation does not improve," he said.

His statement followed the latest clashes between Muslim and Christians in the main city of Ambon on Thursday, which killed at least five and wounded 17.

Mr Bambang, who is Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs, had said that the government was reviewing whether to lift or extend the civil emergency in the Malukus.

In East Java, Marine Corps Commander Major-General Harry Triyono suggested the civil emergency should not be removed until the security situation returned to normal. Maj-Gen Triyono said two battalions and two companies of marine troops were deployed currently in Maluku at the request of the civil emergency administrators.

National Police Chief General Suroyo Bimantoro has promised that he will send one battalion of Mobile Brigade troops to the violence-wracked islands. "In the near future, they will arrive here," Maluku Police Chief Brigadier-General Firman Ghani was quoted by Antara as saying on Friday.