Jakarta - UN peacekeepers shot dead a pro-Jakarta militiaman in East Timor yesterday, on the eve of a deadline for the violent gangs to surrender their guns to Indonesian authorities.
New Zealand peacekeepers fired on three or four militiamen advancing on their observation post south-west of Kulit, 8km (five miles) from the border with Indonesian West Timor. "As it became evident that there was going to be a conflict, or a contact, our people opened fire," Brig Jerry Mateparae told Reuters by telephone from East Timor. "They returned fire."
No UN troops were hurt.