Australian troops have taken control of Dili as intensive negotiations take place to end the brutal clashes between the army and rebel soldiers and police.With East Timor's Government paralysed and the President and Prime Minister at loggerheads, sporadic gunfire continued yesterday following Thursday's clashes, which left 15 people dead including 12 policemen.
Rebels attacked the home of East Timor's armed forces commander, Taur Matan Ruak, outside Dili, and the charred bodies of a mother and her five children were found inside a burnt-out house near the airport. Four men were said to have smashed the windows of the house overnight on Thursday, poured petrol inside and set it alight.