Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Sutisna said on Tuesday he regretted the clash and that the police were still investigating the case.

"I call on the public to convey their aspirations in a proper manner. We will be strict against those who commit anarchic actions," Sutisna said at the police headquarters.

He said the police had identified several suspects in the case and would question them immediately.

The protesters, grouped under the Bali Tourism Service Union (PJWB), attacked drivers and taxis belonging to PT. Praja Bali Transportasi, which they accused of having an illegal operating license and threatening their livelihoods. No casualties were reported in the incident.

The protest began Monday morning when the protesters marched toward the provincial council office in Renon, damaging taxies belonging to Praja Bali Transportasi on their way.

They also stormed two taxi pools at a supermarket on Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai and on Jl. Sesetan, Denpasar.

In total, the group damaged 21 taxies, denting body work and ripping off bumpers and smashing windshields.

A driver with Praja Bali Transportasi, Made Wijana, said he had been taking two Australian passengers from Sanur to Kuta when he encountered the chaos.

"When we passed by Makro supermarket, there was a crowd of protesters driving their taxis. They approached my car and threw a stone at the back window," Wijana said, adding that the protesters had also forced his passengers out.

"My passengers were shocked, they later took shelter at a nearby stall."

Two journalists from local TV stations were also attacked by the protesters while covering the incident.

The protesters damaged a camera belonging to Riadis Sulhi, a contributor for Indosiar. A contributor for ANTV, Putu Jana, was set upon by a crowd before police officers intervened.

The protestors demanded the provincial administration and the council revoke Praja Bali Transportasi license, which they claimed was fake.

Praja Bali, whose shares are owned by state-owned taxi firm Blue Bird Group, uses the name Bali Taxi for their fleet.

The protesting drivers said they feared Bali Taxi was threatening their livelihoods.

The administration had ordered the company to remove their taxis from streets to prevent them from being attacked by PJWB drivers, but the order failed to stop protesting, which first began several months ago.

Spokesman for Praja Bali Transportasi, Nyoman Mertadi, demanded the police conduct a thorough investigation into the riot, saying the company had received complaints from its customers regarding the incident.

"The protest turned violent. We demand the police be serious in handling this case," he said, adding that the company would continue to operate all of its 750 taxies and would ask the police to safeguard its drivers.

The protest was also regretted by chairman of the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, who raised fears the incidence could inconvenience tourists and affect the tourism business on the island.

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and the Union of Indonesian Television Journalists in Bali also condemned the attack against the two journalists, accusing the protesters of preventing the reporters from doing their jobs.

On Tuesday, the PJWB apologized for the attack against the journalists. During a visit to AJI's Denpasar office, PJWB spokesman Gusti Oka Daging said it would provide compensation for the damaged camera. However, the PJWB said the clash was the work of provocateurs and refused to offer compensation for the damaged taxis.

"It is not our responsibility. The damage was committed by individuals, not by the group," Oka Daging said.

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