Eight named suspects after provincial speaker dies in mob attack

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MEDAN, Indonesia - Eight protesters have been declared suspects by police and could face jail over a mob attack that caused the death of the speaker of a local parliament in Indonesia, police said Wednesday.

Azis Angkat died of a heart attack Tuesday after being set upon by a mob that stormed the parliament of North Sumatra province, smashing furniture and carrying a wooden coffin, an AFP correspondent witnessed.

The protesters threatened to "put Angkat in this coffin" if he did not agree to their demands and approve the creation of a new province carved out of five districts in North Sumatra.

"Eight out of 13 people we questioned have been named suspects (over Angkat's death)," Medan city police chief Aton Suhartono told reporters, adding that more could be named suspects.

"The suspects could be charged with premeditated murder or assault," Suhartono said. (*)