Jul. 12, 2009 (United Press International) -- Suspected Indonesian separatist militants have fatally shot a security guard outside a gold mine operated by an American company, authorities said.

The attack Saturday came a day after an Australian man working for the same U.S. conglomerate, Freeport McMoran Copper and Gold Inc. (NYSE:FCX PRC) (NYSE:FCX) , was shot dead in an ambush in Papua Province, the BBC reported.

Police who responded to the first shooting also came under fire, the network said.

The police battled armed separatists after the Saturday slaying of Markus Rattealo, an employee of Freeport's Indonesian subsidiary, the broadcaster said. One report indicated five others were injured in the attack.

Analysts say Freeport's huge open-pit mine at Grasberg is a symbol among Papuan separatists of unfair rule by Jakarta and the exploitation of local people and resources by international conglomerates.