Australian Defense Minister Brendan Nelson said Sunday that Australia is likely to send up to 50 Australian policemen to Timor-Leste in the next 24 hours, making the number of Australian policemen in its northern neighbor to 65.

He said the presence of Australian troops had quelled rebel action to date.

"We've seen an immediate calming in terms of the rogue military elements and the police in the most savage way fighting with one another," Nelson told Australia's Network Ten television.

"I spoke last night to Justice and Police Minister Chris Ellison and the prime minister now is, I know, considering deployment of Australian Federal Police," he said.

"It is likely we, over the next 24 hours, will send another 45 to 50 AFP (Australian Federal Police) officers to Dili to join the 15 that are already there," he said.

The Australian police will be armed and carry armaments that are necessary to see that they are able to do their job, according to Nelson.

The final elements of Australia's 1,300 member force plus all armored vehicles were expected to be in Timor-Leste Sunday morning, providing the military with enough might to enforce disengagement.

Source: Xinhua