Andi Hajramurni and Ruslan Sangaji, Makassar/Poso – Troops were sent to Poso on Monday, one day after Vice President Jusuf Kalla and religious leaders here drew up a list of government steps to ensure peace in the Central Sulawesi regency.

The troops were assigned to help rebuild homes and repair infrastructure damaged in the communal bloodshed of 2000 and 2001. Economic recovery was one of three goals agreed to in meetings between Kalla and religious leaders late Sunday.

The other two priorities were law enforcement, and a commitment to investigate a police killing. In that incident, on Oct. 22, police shot and killed a man and injured a toddler, saying they were looking for terrorists.

The head of the Wirabuana territorial command, Maj. Gen. Arief Budi Sampurno, said Monday that the troops would work for up to four months to build some 1,000 temporary homes for returning refugees, as well as mosques and churches across 68 villages in Poso.

The troops would not attempt to impose order, Arief said. "I entrust security to the people and troops who are already in the area."

He added that soldiers would build a bridge and a 65-kilometer road to open access to and from the Badak village in the mountainous Tentena district. The area, known for its vanilla production, has been isolated for decades.

Thousands were displaced and some 1,000 killed in the conflict, which followed more extensive bloodshed between Christians and Muslims in Maluku province.

On Sunday, religious leaders stressed that relations between Christians and Muslims were back to normal. But the leaders, whom Kalla met separately until almost midnight Sunday, remain divided over whether police should be withdrawn from the region.

Muslims and Christians both said any current conflict in the community is with the security forces. Only Muslims have called for the withdrawal of the police, however, saying they have incited recent violence. The government has said the forces are still needed to safeguard the area.

Meanwhile, South Sulawesi police said 16 people were arrested in Makassar for attempting to terrorize people late Saturday and Sunday, when mobs set to fire three homes and vandalized a car.

Senr. Commr. Genot Haryanto, the police chief of Pare-pare regency, said the 16 men had admitted to roles in the acts. Genot said they acknowledged the crimes were committed "in solidarity" for two men kidnapped and murdered in Poso, following the execution of three Christians charged with masterminding a 2000 massacre. Genot said the suspects would be charged under the anti-terror law.