East Timor capital quiet, tense after protests

DILI, March 6 (Reuters) The capital of tiny East Timor was quiet but tense today, a day after thousands of supporters of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado burnt tyres and threw stones to protest a raid by international troops on the fugitive's hideout.

''The situation is getting normal. Government vehicles have cleared the locations (of roadblocks),'' a Reuters witness in Dili said.

He said New Zealand troops, part of an international peacekeeping force in the country of one million since last year, were patrolling areas considered riot prone.

Australian soldiers continued to comb the southern part of East Timor for Reinado, who escaped the weekend raid that sparked yesterday's protests.

Five people died in the raid according to the latest information from the Australian government.

Reinado was involved in fighting last year when the sacking of some of the army and regional differences plunged the fledgling nation into chaos.

Britain issued a new travel advice on Monday for East Timor warning against all travel there and advising British nationals in the country to leave.

''The security situation in East Timor remains uncertain and could deteriorate at short notice,'' the advisory said.

New Zealand issued a travel warning too, saying the situation in East Timor was volatile and could deteriorate.

''There is extreme risk to your security in all parts of Timor-Leste and we advise against all travel. The security situation remains extremely volatile and could deteriorate further with little warning,'' said the New Zealand government.

''The election period in Timor-Leste, which begins with the presidential elections on 9 April 2007, could lead to demonstrations and protests. Government buildings should be avoided.'' Australia and the United States have issued similar warnings, and Australia has announced it would evacuate non-emergency staff and families from its Dili embassy.

Prime Minister John Howard said Australia remained worried about events in East Timor. He told a news conference in Canberra: ''Those evacuations are precautionary. I don't hold deep fears but I do hold some concerns.

''It's a reminder that this country is still fragile and still needs our help and still needs our investment of people and military and police capacity.'' WEAPONS STOLEN Yesterday Reinado's supporters gathered in the heart of Dili, shouting ''Long Live Alfredo'', and denouncing President Xanana Gusmao, who had ordered security forces to arrest Reinado following accusations the former army major led a raid on a police post last month and made off with 25 automatic weapons and ammunition.

The protest broke up in the afternoon and Gusmao called on East Timor's people not to do anything that could destroy the nation's unity.

He asked international and East Timorese authorities to take all legal actions needed to enforce order, warning that if ''normal measures reveal themselves to be in sufficient'' stronger steps may be necessary, ''such as the state of siege''.

Reinado has been on the run since he escaped from jail in Dili in August along with 50 other inmates.

The standoff between Reinado and the troops has raised fears of violence ahead of East Timor's April presidential election.

East Timor voted in a 1999 referendum for independence from Indonesia, which had annexed it after Portugal ended its colonial rule in 1975. The country became fully independent in 2002 after a period of UN administration.

REUTERS MS PM1623