Australia to send more troops to Timor-Leste

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-11 14:43

CANBERRA - Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced here Monday that he would send more troops and police to Timor-Leste after the attack of the country's President Jose Ramos-Horta early Monday morning.

UN police from Portugal patrol outside the office of East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in Dili February 11, 2008, after rebels attacked the house of President Jose Ramos-Horta. [Agencies]

The prime minister told a press conference that the decision was made by the National Security Committee at a request from the Timor-Leste government. The committee authorized a "substantial and immediate" reinforcement of Australian defense force personnel as well as an additional contingent of Australian Federal Police personnel.

He said the extra military and police commitment would bring Australia's deployment in Timor-Leste to about 1,000 personnel. About 800 Australian troops are already on peacekeeping duties in Timor-Leste.

He said the Australian-led international security stabilization force in Timor-Leste had already secured key buildings and deployed more broadly throughout Dili and increased their presence in Timor-Leste's districts.

Rudd also told reporters that he would travel to Timor-Leste later this week, following a request from the Timor-Leste prime minister.

"Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has asked if I could visit East Timor later in the week and I intend to take up his invitation to do so," he said. "Australia will stand resolutely behind East Timor at this time of crisis in their democracy," he added.

Regarding the security situation on the ground, Rudd said the security situation there was currently assessed as stable, but "this could change quickly as events unfold."

Rudd said there was no evidence to conclude external influences were involved in the attacks, saying it seemed "rogue elements" were responsible."

"But precisely what has caused this event, let's wait for all facts to unfold," he added.