Australia says fleeing convoy safe in West Timor

Australia says fleeing convoy safe in West Timor

SYDNEY (Reuters): A convoy of Australians who fled the East Timor capital of Dili overnight fearing further violence in the troubled province arrived safely in Kupang, West Timor on Saturday, the Australian Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

"Our information is that they have arrived safely in Kupang," a ministry spokesman said.

He estimated between 10 and 14 Australians fled the capital overland with an Indonesian armed escort while an unspecified number of Australians left Dili on a later scheduled airline flight.

Two pro-Indonesia paramilitary groups on Friday threatened to "sacrifice" an Australian diplomat or journalist to punish Australia for its policy switch on East Timor.

Six Australian citizens -- two journalists, a priest and three political activists -- have elected to stay in Dili despite an upgraded Australian consular warning, the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported on Saturday.

The death threats come after Australia received permission to reopen a consulate in the East Timor capital, Dili, which has been closed since 1971.

Two Portuguese journalists have been threatened and beaten in the disputed territory and several Australians challenged.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer was told of the threats while in Jakarta to meet Indonesian President B.J. Habibie and jailed resistance leader Jose Xanana Gusmao. They discussed the future of the province invaded by Indonesia in 1975 and formerly annexed the following year.

Australia, one of the few countries to recognize Indonesian rule over East Timor, changed its stance on the territory last month and said that East Timorese had a right to self- determination.