Jakarta – Two soldiers were killed and five people were wounded in a shootout between police and troops in Indonesia's easternmost province of Irian Jaya, police said Tuesday.

The incident stemmed from a traffic accident involving a policeman and a soldier late Monday in the remote town of Serui on Yapen island, said Second Private Rizal. A brawl broke out in which the policeman was injured, Rizal told AFP from the provincial capital of Jayapura.

"The policeman then fled to his precinct which was later attacked by a group of soldiers. One soldier was shot dead while four other soldiers and another policeman were wounded in the shootout," Rizal said. Security officials said a second soldier died later.

Regional military chief Major General Mahidin Simbolon was quoted by the state Antara news agency as saying a joint military-police team would be set up to investigate the incident.

In another development separatist Free Papua Movement rebels attacked a police post on Monday in Sarmi district near Jayapura and injured three civilians, Antara said. Three rebels were injured in the attack.