Security forces in Indonesian Borneo remained on alert Friday for more trouble from indigenous Dayak tribesmen angered by suggestions that Madurese refugees will return to the province.

In a move that appeared certain to anger the Dayaks, Home Affairs Minister Suryadi Sudirja insisted that the tens of thousands of refugees had the right to return to their homes.

Similar comments on Thursday by parliamentary speaker Akbar Tanjung created fears of fresh attacks by the Dayaks.

"There was a scare because of Tanjung's statement," an official, who asked not to be named, told AFP by phone from Sampit, the river port city south of here which has seen the worst violence.

"The Dayaks threatened to go round the town looking for Madurese, but it was quiet last

night," he said.

Sudirja, speaking after a meeting with Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri and military chief Widodo Adisucipto, said: "Every Indonesian citizen has the right to live anywhere in the republic's territory.

"If the situation allows they can come back."

But Sudirja acknowledged that any return would have to wait until the situation improved, and added without explaining that "conditioning" would be needed.

Allowing native ethnic groups to expel migrant settlers from other parts of the huge multi-ethnic Indonesian archipelago would threaten the country's unity, he added.

Some 22,000 terrified Madurese have fled Central Kalimantan aboard refugee ships since the Dayaks ran amok killing and beheading the settlers and torching their houses in a campaign of ethnic

cleansing.

An estimated 25,000 more are awaiting evacuation.

Sampit administration chief Wahyudi Anwar told AFP the official death toll in the carnage had risen to 469. But scores of bodies in outlying areas remain uncounted.

The violence erupted in Sampit on February 18, with clashes between Dayaks and Madurese, but the Dayaks quickly gained the upper hand and the violence spread to outlying areas and the provincial capital of Palangkaraya.

Sampit administration official Zul Rachman said three more naval ships were expected in Sampit Friday, following the evacuation of 9,000 people to the port of Surabaya on the island of Java on Thursday.

"We don't expect any problems, because the last time I spoke with the port people in Surabaya, all three ships had left, but a bit later than scheduled," he said.