Jakarta – An armed mob yesterday torched a market in Jayapura, the capital of Indonesia's eastern province of Irian Jaya, after a youth was stabbed by migrant traders, police said.

"The Entrop market was burned to the ground this morning but the fire has now been put out," said Sergeant Major Bahar from the Irian Jaya police headquarters.

Mr Bahar said the market, dominated by migrants from South and Southeast Sulawesi, was burned "in an attack by local people" but he declined to give further details. The mob was armed with bows and arrows, axes and machetes.