British man arrested over Bali police officer's death

A British man and an Australian woman have been arrested in connection with the killing of a police officer in the Indonesian tourist resort of Bali.

David Taylor and Sarah Connor were arrested on Friday, two days after the death of traffic police officer Wayan Sudarsa.

They were detained following statements from nine witnesses, Bali police chief Major General Sugeng Priyanto said.

Mr Sudarsa's bloodied body was found early on Wednesday on the beach outside the Pullman Hotel in Kuta, while Connor's handbag was discovered nearby, police said.

According to reports in the Australian media, a post mortem examination revealed that Mr Sudarsa suffered 17 open wounds to his head after being repeatedly struck with a blunt object, possibly a beer bottle, and left to die in the sand.

Maj Gen Priyanto was also quoted as saying that a smashed-up surfboard was found near the victim.

Connor told officers she had been at the location with Taylorbut had been drunk and could not remember what happened.

She also said her handbag was missing, Maj Gen Priyanto told reporters.

Taylor refused to be questioned while waiting for a lawyer, the police chief said.

The pair have been banned from leaving Bali at the request of police, an immigration official said.