MELBOURNE, May 24 (UPI) -- A military and diplomatic advance party was on its way to East Timor after the Dili government asked Australia's help to quell violence in the capital.
The announcement of the mission -- and deployment of a contingent of troops -- was announced late Wednesday Australia time by acting Prime Minister Peter Costello.
"We will provide military assistance to re-establish and maintain public order," The Age newspaper quoted Costello.
An initial group of 1,300 soldiers could be on the ground by late Thursday, reports said, and they would later be joined by soldiers from New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal.
East Timor, a former Portuguese colony annexed by Indonesia, gained independence in 2002 through U.N.-supervised elections after years of insurgency against the Indonesian government.
Hundreds of East Timorese soldiers, some recently cashiered from service, launched protests last month over alleged discrimination in the military against personnel from Eastern and Western sections of the country.
The protests led to violent rioting in Dili that resulted in at least five deaths and destruction to government buildings. Reports Wednesday said police in the capital had begun to join the rebellious troops.
Meanwhile, pitched battles have been reported around the capital between residents from different regions of the country.
Australian radio said Timorese Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta told them in an interview he had spoken with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer by phone earlier Wednesday and "the moment the Australian forces land in Timor this will have an immediate calming effect throughout the country."
Australia has had troops, ships and helicopters on standby for more than a week in case East Timor should request assistance.
Prime Minister John Howard is currently on a visit to Ireland.
