Police clashed with a Muslim mob in Indonesia's central Sulawesi province, killing one man and injuring two, witnesses and police said Monday.

An unidentified member of the mob died of gunshot wounds on the way to the hospital, police chief Lt. Col. Rudy Sufahriadi said.

The violence began late Sunday in central Poso, a town at the center of hostilities between Christians and Muslims in 2001-2002 that left more than 1,000 dead.

During two hours of unrest Sunday, police fired into the crowd after being attacked by a stone-throwing mob, Sufahriadi said.

"We are still investigating the shooting and the situation in Poso is now under control," he said, describing the police reaction as self-defense.

It was unclear whether any members of the crowd returned fire.

The clash apparently began after police set up a checkpoint following a small explosion. A man refused to be searched, fled on a motorcycle and then incited the riot by signaling to friends to come out and fight, Sufahriadi said.

Hundreds of angry men then went on a rampage, torching police vehicles and the homes of two police officers, he said. No one was believed to have been hurt in the attacks.

Rizki, who was hospitalized Sunday night with three gunshot wounds in the chest, said police were firing wildly when he arrived.

"I saw many security forces shooting in all directions," said Rizki, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. The police initially withdrew, but "they came out again to face the mob and began shooting," he said.

After a period of relative quiet, violence has been on the rise in Poso following the execution on Sept. 22 of three Christians convicted of leading a militia that killed at least 70 people at a Muslim boarding school in 2000.

A prominent Christian minister, the Rev. Irianto Kongkoli, was killed earlier this month and there have been at least six bomb blasts in recent weeks.

The State Intelligence Agency has warned there may be more bloodshed in coming days during celebrations of Eid al-Fitr marking the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month.