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Following are the leading business stories in the main Indonesian newspapers on Oct. 18. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Telephone: Editorial: +62-21-384-6364. Fax: +62-21-344-8404 or Help Desk: +803-061-2124 (toll free).

THE JAKARTA POST

- MYANMAR JUNTA REASSURES YUDHOYONO ON COOPERATION

Myanmar's military junta leader Senior General Than Shwe promised President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a letter last week to continue cooperating with U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to find a peaceful solution to the country's problems, a presidential spokesman said on Wednesday.

- TRIBAL VIOLENCE KILLS EIGHT IN PAPUA

Eight people have been killed and 19 others injured in ongoing violence involving four tribes in Tembagapura district, Mimika, Papua.

The violence, which pits the Dani, Damal and Moni tribes against the Amungme tribe, began with a row over money paid by mining giant PT Freeport to compensate the accidental death of one of the tribe members.

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KORAN TEMPO

- VILLAGERS RETURN TO SLOPES OF RUMBLING VOLCANO

Hundreds of villagers living on the slopes of the rumbling Mount Kelud in East Java have left the shelters to return to their homes, saying that the volcano has not shown any signs of erupting anytime soon.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urged villagers to stay in shelters, saying the situation is far from safe. Authorities raised the alert level on Mount Kelud to a maximum on Tuesday evening, following a dramatic rise in volcanic earthquakes.

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