Army takes over district from UN force

Army takes over district from UN force

EAST TIMOR: East Timor's army on Tuesday replaced United Nations peacekeepers in one district of the new nation -- the first step in a 20-month handover which will see the blue berets bow out.

The army took over responsibility for the Lautem district in the east.

The UN force commander in East Timor, Thai Lt. Gen. Winai Phattiyakul, described the handover as "another landmark in the history of East Timor."

Winai said the UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) "will continue to support East Timor as per its UN mandate and is committed to maintaining a calm and stable environment throughout East Timor."

The army will gradually take over the remaining 12 districts over the next 20 months before UNMISET winds up in June 2004. --AFP