(AFP) Some 400 Indonesian textile workers staged a violent protest in Negri Sembilan after police tried to detain 16 of their co-workers for drug abuse, police said today.

The incident took place in a textile factory on an industrial estate in Nilai. By late today the situation was calm after police had arrested a total of 10 Indonesian workers.

A local narcotics officer said the workers began to riot after urine tests for drug abuse were completed on 200 workers.

"When police were about to take away the 16 workers who tested positive, their colleagues began rioting," he said.

The rioters overturned a police truck, van and a police car and then retreated to their five-storey hostel block from where they jeered at the police and threw chairs, tables, bottles and stones, he added.

During the melee 14 of those who tested positive for drugs escaped into the hostel and only two were brought to the police station, he said.

Drug abuse

Police and the factory management tried to calm the workers before asking officials at the Indonesian embassy to mediate.

"We have sent three officers to talk with the workers. I have been told the situation now is calm," Indonesian embassy counsellor Budhi Rahardjo told AFP.

"We urge the Indonesian workers to cooperate with the police," he said.

Rahardjo said 10 Indonesian workers were eventually detained by police for suspected drug abuse.

"The stand-off between the workers and the police is over. The situation is back to normal," he said.

Rahardjo said Indonesians working in Malaysia must abide by local laws.

A police officer told AFP the situation had been brought under control and that no policemen had been injured.

Malaysia has an estimated 700,000 foreign workers, mainly from neighbouring Indonesia, as well as hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants.