East Timor set for crisis meeting

The government of East Timor is set to hold a crisis meeting as thousands of residents fled the capital, Dili, and gangs armed with machete’s prowled the streets.

Fighting has continued in the East Timorese capital, Dili

Mari Alkatiri, the prime minister, has described the violence as an attempted coup and speculation has grown that the government could be near collapse.

The government has asked 1,300 Australian troops to help quell the violence, but despite their presence the fighting has continued.

Fires raged across Dili and about 800 people broke into a World Food Programme warehouse in the capital and looted supplies on Monday, witnesses said.

Frustrated

John Howard, the Australian prime minister, said it was up to the people of East Timor to solve the problems, but Australia would offer help and advice.

“I think the situation will get worse. I am ready to leave the country with just the shirt on my back”

Aquilino Soares Torres

“In the end, if it is to be an independent country, East Timor has got to run itself,” Howard said on Monday.

Brendan Nelson, the Australian defence minister, said troops were frustrated by rules of engagement that allowed them to do little more than disarm the gangs.

“Our rules of engagement don’t extend to applying extreme force to people doing that sort of thing [gang violence],” said Nelson.

Foreign troops

Twenty-seven people have been killed in disturbances that began in March as a protest over pay by about 600 disgruntled soldiers.

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Australian troops have been
unable to end the violence

They threatened to launch a guerrilla war, and the conflict has widened to include the general population, with a split between the east and west of the country.

About 27,000 East Timorese have sought refuge at shelters, according to the UN.

Aquilino Soares Torres, 34, fled to the airport with his family and said foreign troops were failing to end the conflict.

“The don’t move into the neighbourhoods where the violence is taking place,” he said, holding a baby in one arm.

“I think the situation will get worse. I am ready to leave the country with just the shirt on my back.”

The UN has evacuated its 300 staff from East Timor to Australia. China has said it will send a charter plane to evacuate its nationals.

Source: News Agencies