5 arrested for killing in Chile's quake-hit area

SANTIAGO, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Five members of Chile's Navy Patrol were detained on Wednesday for allegedly killing a civilian in Hualpen, an area affected by the Feb. 27 earthquake.

The area has been under a curfew since the earthquake to avoid rapine and public disorder, local media reported.

The corpse of a 45-year old man was found at 4:30 a.m. local time (0730 GMT) Wednesday next to a soccer field.

According to Admiral Roberto Macchiavello, the man died from excessive use of force by the members of the Navy Patrol, who have been taken to the Prosecutor's Office.

"In these cases, there are differences in criteria and interpretations, which we are trying to solve," Macchiavello said.

He added that these kinds of behaviors would not be tolerated under the current situation.