Army shaping up to ship out

By Eugene Bingham

New Zealand's main troops are on standby to leave for East Timor from today, but aircraft availability may delay their arrival until Friday.

The 280-strong Army company has finished eight days' training and acclimatisation in Darwin, and is ready to join the Australian-led mission to secure peace in the conflict-riven island.

The soldiers, who are expected to carry out foot patrols in Dili, will join about 40 elite New Zealand SAS troops and three Air Force Iroquois already on the ground.

But the timing of their deployment will depend on when they can be slotted into the frenetic airlift shuttle between Darwin and Dili.

Defence Minister Max Bradford will also be in Darwin today and will meet the United States Secretary of Defence, William Cohen, and Australian Defence Minister John Moore.

In subsequent bilateral meetings with his two counterparts Mr Bradford will discuss increasing New Zealand's East Timor commitment to a full battalion of 800 soldiers, and the leasing of US F-16 fighter jets.

Meanwhile, 21 armoured vehicles helped make up a menacing convoy yesterday as they lined Wellington's port ready for shipment to Darwin.

The vehicles, together with 65 containers of military supplies for troops heading to East Timor, will be loaded on board a Dutch freight ship today.

The equipment includes ration packs, generators, bulldozers, motorcycles and barbed wire.

Containers of aid supplies donated by humanitarian organisations will also go on the ship.