Papua independence leader calls for UN-backed vote

The exiled leader of Papua's independence movement has called for "a free and democratic referendum" backed by the UN, and warned over a possible bloodbath after weeks of deadly unrest gripped Indonesia's easternmost territory.

Tens of thousands protested across Papua -- on the western half of New Guinea island -- as anger over racism and calls for self-rule fuelled mass demonstrations and violent clashes between civilians and security forces.

"We need the UN to intervene," Benny Wenda, chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, told AFP by telephone from Britain, where he has lived for years.

"It's a new era and I'm confident that the world is beginning to notice what's going on."
"The people of (Papua) have asked them to look at the root of the problem, but the Indonesian government doesn't want that. They just send more military."
"We don't want to see a massacre and then the world reacts."