Australia says reports of more East Timor violence

CANBERRA, May 23 (Reuters) Parts of East Timor are reported to be descending into violence, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today as he again pledged to send military help if needed.

A Reuters photographer in the East Timorese capital Dili said there were reports of shooting earlier on Tuesday between East Timorese soldiers and former comrades who were sacked, supported by their sympathisers, on the outskirts of the city.

Four people were killed and hundreds of East Timorese fled their homes when protests by the disgruntled soldiers initially turned violent late last month. Protesters burned cars, threw rocks at police and officers fired into the crowd.

''The government remains concerned about the situation in East Timor,'' Downer told parliament in Canberra.

''We have prepositioned some military assets in northern Australia, including naval vessels, aircraft and even some troops, to enable a rapid response to assist with evacuation or some other form of assistance if it's required.'' The cash-strapped East Timor government dismissed more than 500 soldiers earlier in April, prompting demonstrations joined by people the government says have broader motives.

''Reports we have been getting yesterday and today are that parts of Dili and other parts of the country are descending into violence and there are reports of injury and property damage,'' Downer said.

Australia led a U.N.-backed intervention force to East Timor in 1999 to quell violence by pro-Indonesian militias after East Timorese voted for independence from Jakarta. An estimated 1,000 people died in the violence.

UN peacekeepers left a year ago and the UN mission of 130 administrators, police and military advisers was scheduled to finish in East Timor on May 20, but was extended for a month after the riots.

''East Timor is a young country and it is inevitably ...coming to terms with the responsibility of democracy and government,'' Downer said. ''I hope this difficult situation can be resolved quickly and obviously ... peacefully.'' ''But Australia stands willing and ready to help, to bring about a return to stability, if that help at any time is needed.'' Australia's military deployment to East Timor soured relations with Indonesia for several years.

Australia already has troops deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East, Sudan and the Solomon Islands.

It sent nearly 400 troops and 70 police to the Solomons late last month after the election of a new prime minister sparked violent protests and the impoverished South Pacific nation asked for help to restore law and order.

REUTERS CH VA 1252