Australian troops have stormed the stronghold of Alfredo Reinado, the East Timorese rebel leader, killing four of his armed men, but failing to capture the fugitive leader.
Reinado, blamed for unrest last year which led to about 37 people being killed, has been holed up for days in Same, surrounded by Australian-led troops.
An Australian department of defence spokesman told AFP: "I can confirm that the International Security Force this morning conducted operations in Same, south of Dili."
Hunt
"The purpose of the operation was to apprehend Alfredo Reinado and his associates. At this stage we haven't apprehended him, however operations will continue until such time as we do," the spokesman said.
Although no members of the ISF were killed or injured during the offensive, "shots were fired and four armed Timorese men were killed when they posed an immediate threat to the lives of the ISF men involved", he said.
He said searches were under way including helicopter surveillance, roadblocks and foot patrols.
Many of Reinado's supporters were understood to have fled the town, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said.
Meanwhile, unrest has also broken out in the capital, Dili, with shots ringing out since the early morning, ABC said.
Xanana Gusmao, the East Timor president, who gave the ISF the go-ahead to apprehend Reinado, was due to make a national announcement on Sunday, but this had yet to be confirmed, the ABC reported.
Australian and UN security officials in Dili said they feared the outbreak of widespread violence if the Australian soldiers killed or injured the rebel leader.