Indonesian security forces in Papua are guarding the region around Jayapura after they killed a pro-independence leader yesterday, sparking a riot.

Mako Tabuni, the deputy head of the West Papua National Committee, was gunned down in the street by security forces near the town of Jayapura.

Papuan independence activists say the force was led by members of the Australian-trained counter terrorism unit Detachment 88, but the unit's role could not be confirmed independently.

Police say Tabuni was killed while resisting arrest but they offering differing accounts of whether he was armed at the time.

They blame the group for a series of unexplained shootings in recent weeks and they have launched sweeping raids on its supporters.