NZ soldiers on stand by for East Timor

A platoon of around 30 New Zealand troops on stand-by for deployment to East Timor following a recent flareup of violence there.

The Defence Force said the troops, based at Christchurch's Burnham Military Camp, were on 48 hours' notice, "just in case".

New Zealand Defence Force spokesman Mike Shatford said: "It's a process we apply as a precaution only and with the problems that have been occurring with the Solomons, Fiji and East Timor... it's a heightened state of readiness.

"Should there be a requirement for them to go...we would give them 48 hours' notice."

Ethnic clashes began in East Timor at the weekend and are continuing.

Six people have been injured and eight properties burnt in the unrest in Dili.

It started on Saturday night, after celebrations marking the anniversary of the former Portuguese colony's independence from Indonesia.

The atmosphere in Dili is tense, with fears of new uncontrolled clashes involving the army, ethnic factions and police, after a meeting of the leading Fretilin party last week failed to address the causes of similar violence last month.

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB