Indonesia to send aid to East Timor

The Indonesian government will send US$700,000 in humanitarian aid to neighbouring East Timor to assist with the fallout of weeks of unrest.

Welfare Minister Aburizal Bakrie said the aid followed a request from East Timor, made through a letter from East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao, dated June 6.

He said the aid, in the form of food and other essentials, would be dispatched on two Hercules transport planes.

Mr Bakrie said there had been no request for Indonesian military or police personnel to assist on the ground.

East Timor, particularly its capital, has been rocked by weeks of violence following the sacking of nearly half of the nation's army after they complained of discrimination because they came from the country's west.

The death toll has reportedly reached 21 after sporadic battles.

More than 2,000 combat-ready foreign troops are now deployed in Dili.

Doubts cast on accusations against PM

East Timor's newly appointed defence minister, Jose Ramos Horta, has cast doubt over allegations that the country's prime minister, Mari Alkatiri, recruited an armed squad to eliminate his political opponents.

A group of 30 former independence fighters have told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that they were recruited on behalf of the prime minister last month and given weapons to kill those against him.

They say they were given a hit list which included many of the rebel soldiers who were sacked earlier this year, and even hostile members of Mr Alkatiri's own Fretilin party.

Mr Alkatiri has denied the allegations, and Mr Ramos Horta says he has trouble believing the claims.

"There is no evidence of any sort that can sustain that allegation," he said.

"It's a very serious one and I find it very hard to believe that our prime minister, Dr Alkatiri, would do such a thing."

East Timor's parliament says the prime minister has its backing, despite calls for his removal over the violence that has gripped the capital, Dili.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA