600 migrants take refuge

DILI, East Timor: About 600 migrants have fled to Atambua in the neighboring West Timor province since ethnic and religious violence broke out here more than week ago, the governor said Saturday.

Abilio Joe Osorio Soares said the migrants, mostly traders, fled Maliana and Dili after the rioters had burned down markets and harassed them.

Abilio apologized to the public for the violence sparked by a Meliana prison official who allegedly insulted Catholicism, the main religion in the former Portuguese territory.

The rioting ended up in dozens of burned shops, vehicles and places of worships while migrants were harassed and more than 10 were arrested.

Abilio said the local government is seeking funds to rebuild markets in Meliana, Dili, and the surrounding areas affected by the incidents.

The governor said he supported Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo's proposal for open talks between the government and the local people to seek ways to end violence in East Timor. (yac)