Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

PNG brawl leads to fatal clashes in Mt Hagen

Posted at 01:50 on 04 February, 2008 UTC

A hotel brawl in Papua New Guinea’s Western Highlands province has triggered revenge killings that left six people dead.

One of the six victims was killed in a drive-by shooting as Jiga tribesmen retaliated against Mt Hagen city settlers.

The surprise attack occurred after a security guard was stoned to death during an early morning fight at the Kanges Hotel in Mt Hagen.

When relatives learnt the guard Mathew Koi had been killed, truckloads of family and friends rushed to the city seeking revenge.

Police say four settlers and one Jiga tribesman were killed in the violence and several others had been admitted to Mt Hagen General Hospital with serious wounds.