DILI residents awoke to burning houses close to the city centre and shots from various sites, as families with children fled in all directions. Earlier, a group of heavily armed Australian soldiers responded to an outbreak of repeated gunfire near the UN compound in Dili. Fighting has also been reported in various districts of the East Timor capital, Dili "I heard shooting at 7am or 7.20am, and at 8am they began burning houses. People are fighting between themselves: I don't know who," local resident Jocelino Alves said. "They were running and shooting. I just got in my car and went. People are very scared. Please call the Australian peacekeepers," she said, after reaching safety at the International Organisation of Migrations.Earlier, about 10 soldiers are heading on foot in combat formation towards the scene of the outbreak. Two houses were reported to be burning about one kilometre from the compound. Local people reported gunfire coming from gangs of armed civilians. Australian soldiers searched houses and laneways, bringing children from the houses under armed protection.
Earlier, The HMAS Kanimbla, carrying Australian troops and armoured vehicles, was this morning stationed off the coast within sight of the missile frigate HMAS Adelaide. At Dili airport, a Malaysian air force Hercules landed, unloading supplies and equipment.