Timor rebel leader escapes raid
Alfredo Reinado gives the slip to Australian troops but four of his men are killed.
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.