Timor soldiers kill unarmed police

Australian commandos have secured Dili airport. Picture / Reuters.

DILI - East Timorese soldiers opened fire on unarmed police on Thursday, killing nine officers and wounding 27 other people, the United Nations has said.

Meanwhile, about 150 Australian commandos arrived and secured Dili airport ahead of the deployment of 1,300 troops after weeks of unrest in the world's newest independent nation.

A UN spokesman said army elements attacked the Dili police headquarters and a ceasefire was negotiated.

But "as the unarmed police were being escorted out, army soldiers opened fire on them, killing nine, and wounding 27 others, including two UN police officers," he said.

UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Marie Guehenno later told the UN Security Council soldiers and police were leaving the government to join rebel factions, due to growing tensions between the country's east and west.

Much of the heavy fighting around Dili was between members of the Timorese armed forces and national police and the police force was reported to be in "total disarray", he said.

In other incidents, at least three people were killed and many wounded, Arlindo Marcal, the East Timor ambassador in Jakarta, said.

East Timor's inexperienced and cash-strapped government has been struggling to cope with clashes which were first sparked by the sacking of about half the army.

At least six people had been killed in Dili before the latest attacks.

Witnesses reported widespread shooting in the capital and said some buildings had been razed.

"We are now hiding," one resident said. "(There are) no people walking around in Dili except the military and also the police."

East Timor asked for troops from Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Malaysia after a military police unit rebelled and Dili's own forces failed to calm the situation.

Up to 120 New Zealand troops could be deployed within the next few days.

A leader of the rebel military faction, Major Alfredo Reinaldo, who was trained in Australia, said he would cooperate with Australian troops but distrusted the East Timor government.

The ostensible reason for the unrest is the unhappiness of sacked soldiers over firings, benefits and discrimination.

Officials say opposition groups have exploited the situation, sparking attacks and resisting mediation.

- REUTERS