Baucau calm, military says

DILI, East Timor: The military said yesterday that Baucau, which was rocked by a riot last week, is calm and that no night curfew was enforced as rumors suggested.

"Activities have returned to normal," said Maj. Gen. A. Rivai, chief of the Udayana military command, which oversees security in East Timor, Nusa Tenggara and Bali.

Military authorities said that about 60 people rioted in Baucau, 120 kms east of Dili, on June 10 and that they have detained 40 of them for questioning.

The rioters, mostly youths, reportedly evicted traders at the town's market for reasons the authorities are yet to established. Several security officers were reportedly injured in the incident, Antara reported.

Quoting church sources in Baucau, Rivai said the riot involved local youths over some "misunderstanding" he declined to explain.

He called on the mass media and Baucau government officials not to blow the issue out of proportion. (pan)