Indonesia on alert after Timor rebel escape

JAKARTA, Sep 4 (Reuters) Indonesia's army is on the alert to prevent an East Timorese rebel leader and more than 50 other escaped detainees crossing over into West Timor, the military said today.

The alert came as top officials from Indonesia, Australia and East Timor held a meeting in the East Timorese capital, Dili, amid renewed concerns over security in the former Indonesian province, which gained full independence in 2002.

''We are anticipating the possibility of the escapees crossing the border, but we are not putting in additional personnel,'' said military spokesman Rear Admiral Soenarto Sjoekronoputro, adding that 2,000 soldiers already on the spot were enough to secure the frontier.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and East Timor President Xanana Gusmao and Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta were expected to discuss various issues including transnational crimes, terrorism and trade during today's meeting.

Concern about the fragility of security in East Timor grew after more than 50 prisoners, including rebel leader Major Alfredo Reinado, escaped from Becora jail near Dili on Wednesday.

Reinado was one of the figureheads of a revolt that plunged East Timor into chaos in May, prompting Australia to lead an international peacekeeping force to restore order.

His escape prompted bickering among the different nations involved in East Timor's security over who bore responsibility.

The rebel leader, who is currently being hunted by security forces, urged his supporters in a video obtained by Reuters Television last week not to resort to violence.

Five people suffered gunshot wounds in a camp in Dili on Friday and a sixth was wounded in a machete attack, an Australian Federal Police spokesman has said.

There have been sporadic flareups since May involving gangs burning houses, or fighting one another with stones and homemade weapons.

The United Nations agreed last week to send a new mission to East Timor, made up of some 1,600 police, despite a dispute over whether Australian-led troops already there should remain independent or be part of a U.N. force.

Reuters KR DB0934