Washington – The United States on Monday bemoaned the latest 'tragic' deaths in Indonesia's restive Irian Jaya province and called on separatist leaders and the Jakarta government to back off from confrontation.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said: 'We certainly regret the tragic loss of life. We call on the government of Indonesia and the people of Irian Jaya to exercise restraint and refrain from acts of violence.' He also reiterated US support for the territorial integrity of Indonesia.

Police shot dead six independence supporters angered by the lowering of their flag in the town of Merauke on Saturday, sparking a rampage in which pro-independence backers killed two settlers from other parts of Indonesia.

But while calling for restraint, Mr Boucher criticised the imprisonment of five independence leaders which 'should have no place in today's open and democratic Indonesia'.

The prospect of the vast country splitting up and threatening stability across South-east Asia has caused alarm in Washington and several other capitals.

Meanwhile, in Jakarta, Defence Minister Muhammad Mahfud hit back at Washington's criticisms of the arrests. Mr Muhammad said the government would press on with a persuasive approach with independence activists in both Irian Jaya in the east and the rebellious territory of Aceh in the north.

'Yes, in those two areas, the government will still use a persuasive approach for now and perhaps for the next few months,' he said. 'But we anticipate actions that may lead to subversion, and we will use any means to prevent them. Everybody agrees that the security forces are charged with tasks to secure and to uphold the law,' he said.