UN takes over policing in East Timor

EAST TIMOR: International police deployed to East Timor in the wake of unrest in May formally handed over their authority to the United Nations on Wednesday during a ceremony in the capital.

Some 554 police now fall under the control of the new UN mission in East Timor which was set up by the Security Council last month, according to a mission spokeswoman.

Diplomats from Australia, Malaysia and Portugal symbolically placed blue berets on the heads of representatives of their respective police forces serving in the tiny nation at the ceremony attended by about 100 officials.

"You have a double responsibility and priority: to serve the community and to serve your respective countries," Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta told the gathering. Ramos-Horta praised the "outstanding" job done by the foreign police force so far in East Timor, which was plunged into months of political uncertainty after violence among military and police factions left some 21 people dead in May.

UNMIT, which has an initial six-month mandate, is tasked with assisting in elections due next year as well as strengthening the East Timorese police and justice system.

Meanwhile Ramos-Horta warned Wednesday that he would resign from his new position if anyone, including anti-government rebels, provoked him to do so.

The Nobel peace laureate was named as premier in July, replacing Mari Alkatiri who stepped down in the wake of violence in May which left 21 people dead and forced the deployment of thousands of international peacekeepers.

The unrest was mostly between warring police and military factions and flared after some 600 deserting soldiers were sacked in March. The soldiers were led by Gastao Salsinha, while another soldier, Alfredo Reinado, later deserted and now claims to lead the rebels.

"If Mr. Salsinha can be a better prime minister, if Mr. Alfredo can be a better president, that's fine. I hadn't the slightest interest in becoming prime minister. I was asked to be prime minister," Ramos-Horta told reporters. "If anyone wants me out as prime minister, I'll be out today. I don't need any demonstration for me to resign."

Dili, Wednesday, AFP