Bird flu is suspected in the deaths of three people in Indonesia, the country's health minister has said.

If confirmed, the victims - a man and his two young daughters - would be Indonesia's first human fatalities from the disease.

Millions of birds have died or been culled across Asia in the last few years, in an effort to stem bird flu.

Since January 2004 at least 53 people are known to have died of the virus - in Cambodia, Vietnam or Thailand.

Indonesia has reported cases of bird flu in poultry in several provinces this year and recently confirmed that a farm worker had tested positive for the virus.

But until now there had been no reports of suspected human fatalities.

Inconclusive

Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari said on Friday that the three victims - a 38-year-old man and his two young daughters - had lived in Tangerang on the outskirts of Jakarta.

She said the first victim - a one-year-old infant - died several days ago and had already been buried, and that tests on the other girl and the father had proved inconsistent.