Up to seven dead in West Papua as protest turns violent

At least one Indonesian soldier and six civilians have been reportedly killed in the restive region

Up to six protesters and one soldier have been killed in clashes across the restive West Papua and Papua provinces, although protesters and police dispute how many have died.

A source at one protest in the Deiyai Regency told The Guardian on Thursday that police had fired lived rounds into a crowd of demonstrators outside the regency offices on Wednesday. Six people were killed and two seriously injured, the source, who requested anonymity fearing reprisals, said. "Shots were fired at the protesters, but people continued to sit in protest," the source added.