Australia not to get involved in Timor-Leste's domestic politics: FM

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Saturday although Australia has sent troops to Timor-Leste, Australia would not get involved in its northern neighbor's domestic politics.

Australia decided on Thursday to send troops to Timor-Leste at its request for military assistance to help restore order following continuing fighting sparked by the dismiss of 600 soldiers in March, who went on strike to protest against alleged discrimination in the military based on regional origin.

Several hundreds Australian troops have already arrived in Timor-Leste and the remainder of the promised 1,300 Australian troops would be there by the end of the weekend.

"In terms of who the prime minister or the president or the foreign minister or whatever else is, that really must be a matter for the East Timorese," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

"We're absolutely not get into deciding who East Timor's prime minister (is) or who is acceptable and who isn't acceptable," he said.

"They've got to work all that through themselves," he said.

Finally, the international community had a role to provide stability in Timor-Leste and there was no point in passing on the responsibility to the UN, Australia, New Zealand or any other country, Downer said.

It was reported that nine policemen were killed during assault in Dili Thursday and 27 were wounded. Also on Thursday, a mob torched a Dili home, killing a woman and five children. Shooting could still be heard in the region overnight.

Downer said Australian troops had quietened the situation substantially but there was a long way to go to get the problem resolved.

Source: Xinhua