EAST TIMOR: UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION: SECURITY

(24 Sep 1999) Eng/Indonesian

Australian peacekeeping forces occupied an area of the East Timorese capital on Friday in their biggest show of strength on the ground so far.

An estimated 15-hundred troops backed up by attack helicopters moved in to secure the area.

The Australian peacekeepers carried out house to house searches to flush out any militiamen still operating in the area.

Troops and armoured personnel carriers sealed off a central district near Dili's port and conducted a house-to-house search for militiamen.

Blackhawk helicopters hovered overhead throughout the operation, which was still under way after two hours.

An estimated 15-hundred troops took part in the operation.

Witnesses saw Australian troops detaining three unidentified men who were ordered to lie face down on the ground, and then were taken away.

It was the most active step the force had taken so far to seek out people responsible for the tension in the city.

The head of the multinational peacekeeping forces in East Timor has warned that his soldiers will shoot to kill if they catch anyone pointing a weapon at them.

The Australian-led international forces have detained dozens of suspected militia members since arriving in Dili on Monday and have confiscated hundreds of machetes, knives and homemade guns.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We have identified instances where it is very likely that there has been interaction between T-N-I (Indonesian military) and the militia. This is especially to do with those T-N-I who have been recruited from within East Timor. This is understandable."
SUPER CAPTION: Major General Peter Cosgrove, Commander of U-N peacekeeping force

Meanwhile, Indonesian troops are continuing their retreat from strife-riven East Timor following Jakarta's announcement that martial law over the territory has been lifted.

SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian)
"In accordance to resolution 1264, control of East Timor is in the hands of INTERFET (International Force for East Timor)."
SUPER CAPTION: Major General Kiki Syahnakri, Indonesian military commander in East Timor

Indonesia said on Thursday that martial law had been revoked in East Timor and that the responsibility for security would be handed over to the multinational force.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...