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| Down Under |
| Australian Forces hunting East Timor Rebel leader |
| 2007-03-04 |
| A MANHUNT is under way in mountainous East Timor for rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, who escaped a clash with Australian forces early today. Four of the fugitive's supporters were killed after Australian troops attacked his stronghold in the town of Same, south of Dili, in a pre-dawn raid. However, Reinado escaped and had fled into the mountains, Australian Brigadier General Mal Rerden said. A massive search involving helicopters, road blocks and vehicle and foot patrols was under way this evening. Australian troops had been locked in a tense stand-off with the rebel leader and his supporters for most of the week, after Reinado stole a large haul of automatic weapons from East Timor police posts last weekend. The troops had made several demands he surrender or face the consequences, prior to the assault on his hideout which was launched around 2am local time (4am AEDT) and continued for two hours, without casualties on the Australian side. Brigadier Rerden, who heads the international forces in East Timor, vowed to continue hunting the rebel leader until he was in custody. "The purpose of the operation was to reduce the risk to Timor-Leste's stability and to apprehend Alfredo Reinado and his associates," he said. "At this stage we have not apprehended him. The operation will continue until such time as we do. "We can't confirm at this stage if he was alone or accompanied by others when he left Same. "Nor can we confirm which members of his group are armed." One of the renegade soldier's men told the wire service AFP he was no longer in touch with Reinado. "We have lost contact with Major Reinado since yesterday evening when we had clashed with the Australian troops," he said. "They attacked us first at around 2am. They fired tear gas and flares to light the area." Brigadier Rerden confirmed shots were fired during the operation, but said the full details were yet to be confirmed. "The ISF (International Security Force) are currently conducting searches that include helicopter, road blocks, and vehicle and foot patrols. "I can confirm that ISF has been augmented by some additional forces from Australia. "However, I will not at this stage provide further details about these forces for operational reasons." He labelled the operation a success, despite the escape of Reinado. "The situation in Same is peaceful now. "The threat of Reinado and his men has been removed from Same. "Reinado has now been reduced to foot and is a fugitive. "There's still an opportunity for Reinado to surrender." It's understood a number of people were captured in the raids, but it was unknown whether there were any injuries other than the four deceased. Earlier today, President Xanana Gusmao announced Reinado's escape, saying: "If he surrenders, the country will treat him well." East Timor had asked for Australia's help to capture Reinado. There are fears any explosion in violence could derail East Timor's presidential elections, set for April 9. But Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said: "I've no reason to believe that they (the elections) will not go ahead." He would not be drawn on whether the escape of Reinado was embarrassing to the Australian defence forces. "Let's make an evaluation of the operation when it's complete," he said. He described today's operation as a "difficult situation" and called for the fugitive to hand himself in. "You can't have a situation where in the face of the strongly expressed preference of the prime minister (of East Timor) ... a renegade former military officer is able to raid police stations, take weapons from police stations, which he's done. "Obviously they will endeavour to capture him alive but the best advice I can give Major Reinado is to surrender. "He can hide in a jungle for only so long." Reinado is wanted for leading a band of breakaway soldiers last April and May, when battles between security factions degenerated into rampant gang violence in East Timor. He has been on the run since leading a mass breakout from Dili's prison last August. |
| Posted by:Snuling Gloling9123 |
| #1 Good hunting, Diggers. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-03-04 19:53 |