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Papua New Guinea police have promised a full inquiry into the deaths of two children and the wounding of more than 30 others by officers with semi-automatic weapons at a Highlands' school.

Police reinforcements have been rushed to the Porgera valley in Enga Province following Monday's violence as conflicting stories emerge about what sparked the shooting at the primary school at Paiam.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch organisation has called on the PNG government to ensure a full investigation. It said the police officers involved should be punished for opening fire on unarmed children.

The shootings occurred when police went to the school to arrest the headmaster who was allegedly involved in a drunken confrontation with police late last week.

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