Wahid Leaves on Trip as Violence Escalates
President Abdurrahman Wahid dismissed fears of an explosion of unrest as he flew out of Indonesia, but bloodshed escalated into beheadings even before he boarded his plane.
More than 142 people have been slaughtered in a revival this week of ethnic violence in remote Central Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo, officials and media said.
Wahid left Indonesia for a 14-day trip to the Middle East and Africa, telling reporters that he was unconcerned about leaving amid the renewed violence and a political crisis that threatens his presidency.
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