SIX PEOPLE WERE KNIFED OR BEATEN TO DEATH TODAY (THURSDAY) IN SINGAPORE BRINGING THE DEATH TOLL IN THREE DAYS OF MALY-CHINESE CLASHES TO 18, WITH HUNDREDS MORE INJURED.

THE WORST RIOTS SINGAPORE HAS SEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS BROKE OUT ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON. WITHIN 24 HOURS OF INITIAL CLASHES FOLLOWING A PROCESSION BY 25,000 OF SINGAPORE'S MUSLIM RESIDENTS, EIGHT PEOPLE HAD DIED AND MORE THAN 300 WERE INJURED. IN SOME INCIDENTS SHOPS AND STALLS WERE WRECKED, AND SEVERAL CARS OVERTURNED AND BURNED.

AS SOON AS THE TROUBLE SPREAD ALL POLICE LEAVE WAS CANCELLED AND POLICE AND RIOT SQUADS SEALED OFF A LARGE AREA OF THE CITY. A CURFEW WAS IMPOSED FROM 9.30 IN THE EVENING TILL 6 THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THE CITY EMPTIED AS THE TENSION INCREASED, AND NIGHT-LIFE CAME TO A HALT. RADIO AND TELEVISION SERVICES INTERRUPTED THEIR PROGRAMMES TO BROADCAST THE CURFEW.

SOON AFTER THE CURFEW WAS LIFTED ON WEDNESDAY MORNING FRESH CLASHES BROKE OUT. RIVAL GROUPS WERE USING A VARIETY OF WEAPONS INCLUDING STICKS, BICYCLE CHAINS AND PARANGS (A HEAVY KNIFE).

AS MORE POLICE AND TROOPS WERE RUSHED TO THE TROUBLED AREAS THE CURFEW WAS RE-IMPOSED AT 11 O'CLOCK UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. ALL SHOPS AND SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED, AND ROAD BLOCKED SET UP ALL OVER THE CITY.

WHEN THE CURFEW WAS LIFTED TODAY FOR THREE AND A HALF HOURS TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO BUT FOOD, FRESH VIOLENCE STARTED AND SIX NEW DEATHS BROUGHT THE TOLL OF THE RIOTS TO 18.

BY THIS EVENING MORE THAN 1,200 PEOPLE HAD BEEN ARRESTED, MOST OF THEM FOR CURFEW-BREAKING. AN EMERGENCY COURT IN SINGAPORE SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT ALL WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO RIOTING AND POSSESSION OF WEAPONS. THE GOVERNMENT RADIO DID NOT GIVE THE NUMBER SENTENCED BUT SAID 40 PEOPLE WERE BEFORE THE COURT FOR POSSESSION OF WEAPONS AND 39 FOR RIOTING.

TUN ABDUL RAZAK, ACTING MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER, SAID AFTER A CABINET MEETING IN KUALA LUMPUR TODAY THAT RESTRICTIONS IN SINGAPORE WOULD HAVE TO BE TIGHTENED IF THE SITUATION DID NOT RETURN TO NORMAL SOON.

THE CURFEW IS TO BE LIFTED ON FRIDAY FOR A FEW HOURS WHILE AN ESTIMATED 10,000 POLICE AND TROOPS STAND IN THE CITY, GUARDING AGAINST FURTHER RIOTING.