Christians, Muslims Clash; 24 Die in Riots

Rioters fired flaming arrows at mosques and churches and armed gangs blocked roads as clashes between Christian and Muslim militants spread in eastern Indonesia. At least 24 people have died this week and almost 3,000 have fled their homes in Maluku province, once known as the Spice Islands. At least 10 religious buildings were set afire and thousands of police and troops have been flown in to restore order. The violence was the latest in a series of clashes to hit the sprawling Southeast Asian nation as it grapples with its worst economic crisis in three decades. Soaring inflation, unemployment and poverty rates have all increased social tensions.