Jailed former-minister stranded at E.Timor airport

DILI, Aug 9 (Reuters) East Timor's authorities have blocked a jailed former minister from going to Malaysia for heart surgery, forcing him to spend the night at the airport, his lawyer and an airport official said today.

Former interior minister Rogerio Lobato was jailed for seven and a half years in March for giving weapons to civilians to kill government opponents during a wave of violence last year.

Newly elected parliament speaker Fernando de Araujo said the former minister could go overseas for treatment but should first fulfill all required conditions.

''There should be a guarantee that he will come back,'' he told reporters, adding that he believed Lobato had no intention of fleeing. He did not elaborate.

Lobato was an influential member of the former ruling Fretilin party, which has branded the appointment of a new government led by former president Xanana Gusmao this week as illegal.

An official at Dili airport, who declined to be identified, said Lobato was already onboard a chartered plane yesterday when officials from the prosecutor general's office stopped the flight.

He said Lobato and the family were still on the plane.

Lobato's lawyer Nelson Carvallho said his client had obtained a court permit to leave.

''We have organised everything like contacting doctors and the prosecutor general as well as our embassy in Malaysia to accompany him during the treatment,'' he said.

Justice Minister Julia Lobato said she had consulted newly installed Prime Minister Gusmao and the ailing ex-minister might be allowed to leave tonight.

Gusmao was sworn in as premier yesterday after weeks of political uncertainty.

His appointment sparked violent protests by supporters of Fretilin, which claimed the right to govern after winning most votes in legislative elections in June.

The United Nations mission in East Timor said today that 110 buildings were burned during this week's violence.

Mission chief Atul Khare said this was the result of gang violence and had little to do with political supporters.

But he said Fretilin supporters burned seven government buildings in Baucau district and a tax office in Dili.

Violence broke out in the impoverished tiny country last year after the government sacked 600 mutinous members of East Timor's 1,400-strong army.

The chaos left 37 people killed and forced 150,000 from their homes. International troops were sent in to restore order.

REUTERS GL BD1634