| Submit your comments on this article |
| Down Under |
| E.Timor Rebels to hand weapons into Australian soldiers |
| 2006-06-15 |
| The commander of Australian forces in East Timor says he expects rebel soldiers to begin surrendering their weapons as early as today. Brigadier Mick Slater says Australian troops have been working on gaining the confidence of the rebels in the hills outside Dili over the last week. He has told ABC Radio's AM program that they are getting close to handing in their guns. "I think we'll see the first of those weapons handed in by the end of today," he said. "I don't for a minute fool myself into thinking that we'll see all of the weapons handed in today. I think this will be a gradual process over a number of days." It could be a key step in encouraging thousands of East Timorese to return to their homes. Around 600 soldiers and military police have been staked out in the mountains outside the capital Dili for several weeks, many with high-powered rifles. It was their defection from the army that sparked the civil unrest which has left more than 20 people dead and hundreds of buildings destroyed. It is understood East Timor President Xanana Gusmao has supported a surrender, and once he gives the order the rebel forces would comply. Autopsies Meanwhile, Australian forensics officers in East Timor have begun conducting autopsies on the bodies of many of those killed in the recent violence in the country. Australian Federal Police (AFP) are doing much of the preliminary investigative work into the deaths of 10 East Timorese police officers in a gunfight last month, and at least five protesters on April 28. The United Nations yesterday announced criminal investigations had begun into the various killings to find how they died and who was responsible. AFP officers have played a key role in collecting and preserving evidence to help in investigations. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |