At least 36 people including two policemen were confirmed dead and 160 others injured after the bloody riot that erupted Sunday in Ambon, capital of the Indonesian eastern province of Maluku, reports said Wednesday.

Violence broke Sunday after the separatist Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) held a rally to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the proclamation of the South Maluku Republic (RMS), leaving at least 16 people killed on the spot.

Police headquarters spokesman Zainuri Lubis said here Wednesdaytwo of 36 fatalities were members of police paramilitary unit Brimob.

"They died from gunshots," he told local media.

The two police officers had been shot dead in the Talake area shortly after they arrived from Jakarta Tuesday.

Another officer was in critical condition at a local hospital after being shot in the right eye.

Lubis said police suspected snipers of shooting the officers from hiding places.

As violence continued with sporadic sounds of gun fire and explosions, Metro TV reported most shops, schools and government offices were closed and markets were quiet Wednesday.

The riot-torn Ambon has been ravaged by sectarian conflict between Christians and Muslims since 1999 that claimed thousands of lives from both camps. But Interim Security Minister Hari Sabarno denied Monday that the Sunday's clash was triggered by religious conflict.

Source: Xinhua