Indonesia police fire rubber bullets on rally, 8 hurt

MANOKWARI (AFP) - Indonesian police fired rubber bullets on students at a pro-independence rally in the restive region of Papua on Tuesday, in clashes that injured at least eight protesters, witnesses said.

Hundreds of police were deployed as around 300 people gathered outside the University of Papua in Manokwari, and a clash broke out with students hurling stones at the officers, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

Police then fired rubber bullets on the crowd and four demonstrators were hurt, the AFP reporter said, while another four were injured in clashes with officers.

The eight were taken to the local hospital but a doctor there indicated none of their injuries were serious.