200 more troops fly out to violence-torn Timor

A local salutes an Australian soldier on foot patrol in the East Timor capital of Dili. Picture / Reuters

New Zealand boosted its contribution to peacekeeping efforts in East Timor to up to 200 troops last night after what Prime Minister Helen Clark called a day of serious loss of life.

But hopes for a peaceful resolution to the crisis later increased when Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta said the warring parties might be brought together for talks over the weekend, and that in the meantime Government forces and the fighting factions had agreed to leave the capital city, Dili.

"By Sunday, I hope for a roundtable chaired by the President, Xanana Gusmao," he said.

New Zealand has already sent 42 Defence Force personnel to join a multi-national peacekeeping force heading to East Timor.

They will be joined today by a full company of 120 soldiers, as NZ throws its weight behind international efforts to avert civil war in East Timor.

Last night Helen Clark announced 12 extra personnel would be rushed to Dili ahead of the arrival of the New Zealand troops to liaise with Australian forces already on the ground.

Further support personnel would also be assigned to the mission as needed, Helen Clark said.

"Tonight's decision by ministers comes as the situation in Timor Leste continues to deteriorate," she said.

"There has been serious loss of life today and the international community must assist the Timor Leste Government re-establish order. New Zealand will play its part."

One hospital official in Timor said 10 people were killed and around 30 wounded on Thursday in clashes sparked by a Government decision to sack almost half the country's military after they protested against poor conditions.

At least 20 people have been killed in recent days, as rival factions within the Army fight for control of Dili.

The dead include a mother and five children killed when a mob burned their home. The family are understood to have been related to Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato.

Yesterday nine police officers, understood to be unarmed, were shot dead by soldiers during a confrontation at the UN compound.

The fighting spread to streets surrounding the presidential palace, and the President's office was evacuated.

About 450 Australian troops are now in East Timor, with 850 on standby. Forces from Portugal and Malaysia are on their way.

Helen Clark yesterday described the situation the troops would confront as "very grave". She said their arrival was vital to international efforts to try to avert civil war.

A platoon of 42 soldiers flew yesterday from Christchurch's Burnham base to Townsville in northern Australia, where they will await orders for deployment to East Timor. The 120-strong company flies out from Burnham to join them today.

On Thursday night, the 250 staff inside the UN compound stayed overnight for their own safety. Yesterday the compound again came under fire, but no one was hurt and the immediate danger was believed to be over.

World Vision said two of its three compounds, containing thousands of people who had fled to Dili to escape the fighting, were surrounded by mobs. The aid agency also feared one of its workers was dead.

Helen Clark said people were "very worried" about the events at the UN compound. However, NZ and Australia were waiting for confirmed terms of engagement before fully committing soldiers to the war zone.

"Australia yesterday was very concerned, as were we, to get the interim agreement [with the East Timor Government] that makes a deployment possible," Helen Clark said.

"There are various legal forms these have to follow. As well, both of us and the Portuguese and the Malaysians have been very conscious of wanting full [United Nations] Security Council support for this."

She spoke to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday night and said he assured her soldiers sent to restore calm would have UN backing.

The Security Council met yesterday and urged the Dili Government to restore order. It welcomed the decision to invite foreign troops in, and Mr Annan sent diplomat Ian Martin - his special representative in East Timor in 1999 - to assess the situation.

- additional reporting: Martin Johnson, Jarrod Booker