Six killed in PNG ethnic strife

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At least six people have been killed and several seriously injured in ethnic violence in Papua New Guinea.

Clashes between Western Highland Jiga tribesmen and Engan settlers broke out after a Jiga man was killed in the town of Mount Hagen on Sunday.

Police have set up road blocks and hundreds of residents have sought shelter in a police gymnasium.

Local media say the gym is running out of food and water, and the town's schools and businesses remain closed.

Appeals for calm

Fighting erupted after a brawl in Mt Hagan, the country's third-largest city, in which a Jiga man working as a hotel security guard was killed.

Relatives and tribesmen of the man arrived in the area carrying guns and knives and began attacking Engans.

Homes and properties in Mt Hagen have been burned or damaged in revenge attacks, which local police say they could not prevent.

Security personnel are being drafted in from other towns and community leaders have appealed for calm amid concerns that the conflict could spread.

A senior Western Highlands police official, Kaiglo Ambane, told Australia's ABC News: "Things are slowly getting back to order, it will take some time to recover."