Indonesia: Catholic priest shot dead

A Catholic priest was shot dead on Saturday, on Indonesia's Sulawesi island, where religious tensions have been high after the execution of three alleged Catholic militants on 22 September Father Irianto Kongkoli was shot in the head while shopping in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province. Relations between Christians and Muslims in Central Sulawesi have been tense since the executions last month. They were found guilty of inciting attacks against Muslims in 2000, during a wave of religious violence between 1999 and 2001 that left more than 1,000 people dead. Fr Kongkoli was buying construction materials at a shop when he was targeted, a spokesman for the provincial government's information bureau said. Central Sulawesi governor Bandjela Paliudju told reporters he believed the killing may have been linked to last month's executions. "He was an outspoken priest who many times led Christian protests against the executions," Mr Paliudju said. Many religious leaders and human rights organisations appealed for clemency for the three men, who always protested their innocence.