Jakarta – The state of civil emergency in Indonesia's Maluku islands, torn by warfare between Muslims and Christians, should be extended for another month, the national police chief said Friday.

"The state of civil emergency needs to be extended because the security forces in the area do not yet have full control," General Rusdiharjo was quoted by the afternoon Suara Pembaruan newspaper as saying.

The state of emergency in the islands, where some 4,000 people have died since the violence erupted in January 1999, was imposed on June 27. It expires at the end of this month.

Rusdiharjo was speaking during a visit to the Malukus capital Ambon. "But this all depends on what decision is made after an evaluation process. In my opinion things are already quite good. There are no more riots, and when there are, they're on a small scale," the police chief said.

Malukus governor, Saleh Latuconsina, was also reported Friday to be in support of extending the emergency. "I believe the civil emergency is still needed," the Media Indonesia quoted Latuconsina as saying.

The emergency status – imposed in both Maluku and North Maluku provinces – allowed the authorities to impose a curfew, limit the size of public gatherings and confiscate weapons carried by civilians.

Both dailies said Rusdiharjo was in Ambon to hand over 1.3 billion rupiah (154,000 dollars) to Ambon-based police troops whose dormitory was destroyed by mobs in June. Six people were killed in the attack, including the deputy chief of the elite police mobile brigade. The Maluku police chief says 131 officers deserted their posts following the attack.

Both camps accuse Indonesian soldiers and police of taking sides in the conflict. In general the police have been accused of siding with the Christians, and army units with the Muslims.

The alleged partiality of security personnel in the Malukus has already sparked calls for foreign peacekeepers, but the government has flatly ruled out any foreign intervention.

Killings have continued despite the state of emergency and tension between the Muslim and Christian communities has remained high. Both sides openly carry firearms on the streets.

After violence which erupted in Ambon, quickly spread to other islands in the Malukus, and has driven more than half a million from their homes, acording to official figures.