Timor-Leste militants handed over their weapons to Australian
peacekeepers in first phase of disarmament, according to official
reports Friday.
"East Timor rebels hand weapons to international peacekeepers as
a step to ease the crisis in the country," the reports said.
The Timor-Leste militants surrendered more than a dozen weapons
to Australian peacekeepers on Friday, it said, adding that it was
beginning a disarmament process to easing months of bloody unrest
in the island country.
The militants gave up 12 fully automatic rifles and four pistols
in a low-key ceremony at a hilltop, century-old Portuguese villa
where Reinado set up camp after fleeing the capital, Dili, in April
over a conflict with the government, the reports said.
Fighting between the rebels and loyalist soldiers in April and
May erupted into widespread street violence which left at least 30
people dead and drove 130,000 from their homes. Foreign
peacekeepers were requested by the Timor-Leste government to come
to the country in order to quell the unrest.
"The militants agreed to disarm after receiving an official
request from President Xanana Gusmao, and the move should create an
environment for talks between stakeholders in the conflict," the
reports added.
(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2006)
