United Nations Will Send 1,600 Police To East Timor
Yvonne Lee - All Headline News Staff Reporter New York, NY (AHN) - The United Nations will initiate a follow-up mission to East Timor by sending 1,600 international police and 34 military liaison officers, but no troops. The U.N. political mission was set to close down on May 20 of this year. But violence broke out in March after about 600 soldiers were fired. Rival security forces battled in the capital, leading to gang warfare, looting and arson. The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the political mission until Aug. 20. It was extended an additional week because of disagreement among council members over whether international troops should become part of a new U.N. peacekeeping mission. Australia has been leading a task force that includes troops from New Zealand, Portugal and Malaysia. The U.S., Britain and Japan supported Australia's offer to finance the current arrangement. The United Nations administered East Timor for 2 1/2 years before handing authority over to the Timorese on May 20, 2002.
Article © All Headline News - All Rights Reserved
|
