Jakarta – Two civilians were shot dead yesterday when police battled soldiers in the streets of an East Java town after a dispute at a petrol station.

"There are 20 people injured and two killed," East Java police spokesman Commissioner Peni Handayani told the Antara news agency. The wounded comprised eight policemen, two soldiers and 10 civilians. Several police stations had been damaged in the clashes that erupted soon after midnight in the town of Madiun, Antara said. "Those who were killed numbered two, all civilians," Mr Peni said.

Antara said Madiun's military police command, several police posts and the emergency ward of the police hospital had been damaged. Four police motorcycles and a car were also torched.

The clashes erupted after police tried to halt a fight between a navy officer and members of the army infantry at a gas station. An infantry man who was lightly wounded in the melee gathered other soldiers and went on a rampage in the town, attacking police stations. The gas station clash started after several infantry members on motorcycles jumped a queue for fuel.