American shot dead at Freeport mine in Papua

One American employee working for Indonesian unit of mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc was shot dead by unknown assailants near the mine at Papua.

PT Freeport Indonesia Spokesperson Mindo Pangaribuan said that the employee, whose identity was not disclosed, was shot at dawn Saturday while riding on a vehicle with other employees.

Mindo said mining activities was not affected by incident and saying that local police along with police?s special unit are working on the case.

Unidentified men have also set a vehicle on fire belonged to Freeport and attacked a guard post on Wednesday.

Freeport-McMoRan through its Indonesian subsidiary PT Freeport Indonesia runs one of the biggest copper and gold mining operations in the restive province of Papua. (godang)