Dili, East Timor – Tens of thousands of East Timorese fled their burning capital or sought refuge in churches, embassies and the airport Sunday as gangs terrorized neighborhoods virtually at will. The United Nations evacuated hundreds of employees.
East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri and military leaders held an emergency meeting today to seek an end to the violence in Dili. The talks came a day after a rebel envoy told the president that the fighters were prepared to discuss peace.
Escorted by Australian peacekeepers, Alkatiri arrived at government headquarters for the meeting amid speculation the government may soon collapse or that parliament would be dissolved. Alkatiri has called the violence a plot to overthrow him.
The unrest was triggered by the March firing of 600 disgruntled soldiers from the 1,400- member army.
A week of bloodshed has killed at least 27 people, raising concerns that one of the world’s youngest nations is plunging into a civil war.
On Sunday, rival gangs torched homes and battled with machetes for a third straight day, as fires filled the sky with dark clouds of smoke. Foreign peacekeepers dispersed some militants, but they quickly regrouped. The U.N. special representative in Dili, Sukehiro Hase gawa, said more international troops may be needed to restore order in the capital.
About 27,000 East Timorese have sought refuge at Dili’s airport, seaport, religious buildings and U.N. shelters, said Robert Ashe, regional representative for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. The U.S., Japan, Australia and other nations pulled out nonemergency staff.
