One person has been killed and a dozen others wounded after a clash during local elections in Indonesia's Papua province.

Photo: Supplied/ Whens Tebay

Antara reported the incident started on Saturday morning between supporters of rival candidates in the election for the head of Puncak Jaya district.

The Papua police spokesman Senior Commissioner Ahmad Kamal told the Indonesian news agency 16 houses were also burned.

He appealed to people not to be provoked by rumours and for candidates to monitor their supporters, saying the election dispute was still being settled in the courts.