Associated Press in Jakarta – Fresh violence broke out between Christians and Muslims in North Maluku killing five people and injuring dozens more, news reports said on Wednesday.

Local military chief Major Puguh said the fighting started on Monday between two communities on Halmahera island, about 2,650 kilometres northeast of Jakarta, the official Antara news agency reported.

He said hundreds of troops have been deployed to the area and peace has since been restored. Major Puguh did not say what triggered the violence.

The sectarian violence has claimed nearly 3,000 lives since it erupted in January last year.