Jakarta – A town in Central Java province was placed under curfew after hundreds of residents went on the rampage to protest against what they said was a rigged election of a village chief, a report said. The Indonesian Observer yesterday said 10 people were being treated in hospital after Saturday's rioting in the village of Grogol.

Following the polls on Thursday, supporters of the defeated candidate boarded cars and motorcycles and launched an attack on the homes of the victor's supporters, stoning and damaging at least five buildings, said the report.

The rioters claimed the poll had been rigged, district police chief Lieutenant-Colonel Suherlan was quoted as saying.

District authorities said, however, that the election was fair