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> Troops poised to help E Timor, Downer says. 24/05/2006. ABC News Online
> [This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1645772.htm]
> Last Update: Wednesday, May 24, 2006. 6:00am (AEST)

> At least one soldier has been killed in shooting on the outskirts of Dili. (Reuters) |

> # Troops poised to help E Timor, Downer says

> Australian Defence Force ships, troops and aircraft are poised to help East Timor if its Government or the United Nations request assistance, Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer says.

> Hundreds of East Timorese have fled the capital Dili after a fresh outbreak of violence yesterday between rebels and soldiers.

> Two people, including an East Timorese soldier, died and five others were wounded in two separate shoot-outs with rebels.

> In the latest skirmish, hospital officials say a lieutenant from a group of rebel police died in the eastern district of Baucau.

> No further details have been released.

> Australians are being warned not to travel to East Timor, with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) urging those already in the troubled country to leave.

> DFAT has raised its travel alert for East Timor after the resurgence of violence and is warning of a dangerous security situation.

> It is understood Federal Cabinet's National Security Committee discussed the renewed unrest during a meeting last night.

> ## Military ready

> The Australian and New Zealand Governments say they are ready to send troops if they are needed.

> "We've prepositioned some military assets in northern Australia including naval vessels, aircraft and even some troops to enable a rapid response and to assist with evacuation or some other form of assistance if it's required," Mr Downer said.

> New Zealand said 30 soldiers were on standby for deployment.

> Prime Minister John Howard says Australia has received no request for military help from Dili.

> Speaking in Dublin, Mr Howard says he has been told no Australians are in immediate danger.

> Mr Howard says he has been fully briefed on the deteriorating situation.

> "We wouldn't go into East Timor unless we were asked in accordance with the constitutional processes of that country, let me make that very clear," he said.

> "We don't have immediate fears for the safety of Australians at present."

> Mr Howard says his Government will not ask the East Timorese Government if they need help.

> ## Renewed violence

> Earlier, two groups of soldiers came under attack from rebel police who had left Dili in the wake of last month's riot.

> A statement from the office of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri says one group of unarmed soldiers was going to the bank to collect their pay and were attacked by renegades.

> One soldier died in that incident.

> Two hundred people have fled their homes in Dili and sought refuge in a convent on the outskirts of the capital.

> Others are reported to have returned to their villages.

> President Xanana Gusmao has cancelled plans to travel to China on Sunday, in part due to the unrest.

> Journalist for Time magazine Rory Cullinan was near the fighting.

> "We heard some quite loud explosions there, which the military was telling us were rocket propelled grenades. That's quite a serious escalation obviously," he said.

> "In terms of them being willing to come and talk to each other, I think worryingly so, it's going to take something like the UN to try and get between these two sides and talk them into laying their weapons down."

> ## Help for East Timor

> Federal Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd says it is important that Australia is prepared to provide help to East Timor.

> M Rudd says the Federal Government should have been doing more to prevent the violence.

> "While the Howard Government has had its eyes on Iraq, what we've had in our own immediate region is things going from bad to worse," he said.

> "We've had instability in East Timor, we've had a breakdown of law and order in the Solomons and other problems in this arc of instability around Australia's north and north-east."

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