Civilian killed in Timor clash with Australian troops

DILI, Feb 23 (Reuters) A clash between Australian peacekeeping troops and East Timorese refugees camped near Dili airport today left one civilian dead and three people injured, including an Australian soldier, officials said.

Canberra has 800 troops in East Timor, a continuance of the multinational peacekeeping force it led last year to quell civil unrest in one of the world's newest countries.

The Australian military said the clash occurred after one of its soldiers was attacked and had to defend himself at the camp, resulting in the death of one Timorese civilian.

''During the incident an ADF (Australian Defence Force) soldier was attacked with steel arrows, which are potentially lethal weapons. He defended himself by shooting the attacker,'' it said in a statement.

Ivan Benitez-Aguirre, an Australian military spokesman in Dili, told reporters an Australian soldier and two East Timorese civilians were injured in the incident.

In the statement, the Australian military said it would investigate the shooting in cooperation with local authorities.

A refugee spokesman said the violence began after Australian soldiers tried to arrest some displaced people guarding a camp.

''They resisted by throwing rocks at the Australian soldiers who responded with shots and came inside the camp using an armoured vehicle. They dragged out those who were wounded and dead,'' Jose da Costa told reporters.

The violence came as Canberra warned its citizens of increased violence in the lead-up to April presidential elections in East Timor, saying areas around Dili's airport and internally displaced persons' camps could be dangerous.

Some of the largest camps are in the vicinity of the airport, and some violence blamed on youth gangs has occurred in villages and along roads nearby.

''East Timor is moving towards a period of elections, beginning with the presidential elections on April 9, 2007. This could lead to a heightened phase of demonstrations and other public protest activity which could turn violent and deteriorate without warning,'' the Australian warning said.

''The areas near the airport, including the airport road and the areas around IDP (internally displaced persons) camps, may be subject to ongoing violence which could break out without notice.

There have also been recent disturbances around food storage sites,'' it said.

''You should exercise extreme caution if passing through these areas. Australians and other foreigners have been caught up in recent incidents of armed robbery and assault.'' East Timor voted to split from Indonesia in 1999, 24 years of often brutal Jakarta rule. After a period of UN administration, the territory became independent in 2002.

But an east-west divide in the impoverished nation erupted into chaos and gang violence in May following the sacking of 600 soldiers. High youth unemployment also plagues the country, where more than 100,000 people are displaced.

Australia agreed in January to provide troops to protect the current UN mission -- approved by the Security Council on August 25 for six months -- and rapid response capacity for UN police.

In a Friday afternoon statement the United Nations mission in East Timor said those police, or UNPol, were investigating the incident.

''UNPol advises the area is secure after officers from the Malaysian, Pakistani and Portuguese ... police units were immediately deployed to the area,'' the statement also said.

It quoted the UN's top representative in the country, Atul Khare, as saying the situation was under control.

REUTERS BDP ND1699