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Three people are dead after a violent riot on the outskirts of Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby.

Police say a fight between armed security guards and residents at the Nine Mile settlement escalated into a brawl early on Sunday morning.

Two locals and a guard were killed in the fighting.

Residents say guards shot at them and they responded by destroying a security van.

Relatives of the dead guard then looted and burned several shops and houses.

Local man Yadi Dilu lost his home and his store.

"After looting they burned the house there ... so we were thinking of taking the water here and putting the fire off but then they were still here and there were many of them. It was really hopeless for me to do anything," he said.

A large police presence has restored calm but locals fear the violence could easily reignite