East Timor under control, says UN force

East Timor under control, says UN force

DILI (AP): After three months of occupation by international
peacekeepers, East Timor is now relatively safe and there is no
longer a major security threat by pro-Indonesian militias, the
incoming leader of the UN multinational force said on Sunday.

Lt. Gen. Jaime S. de los Santos, who will take over
peacekeeping operations next month, said he didn't foresee any
big problems.

"The threat from the militias has been diminished," said de
los Santos, who was speaking on the last day of his three-day
tour of the territory.

He added that he was confident his troops would be able to
handle any problems in the future.

Australian-led international peacekeepers entered East Timor
on Sept. 20 after two weeks of rape, murder and destruction at
the hands of Indonesia-backed militias following an overwhelming
vote for independence in a U.N.-sponsored plebiscite.

The multinational troops secured East Timor within weeks and
except for a few minor firefights near the border with
Indonesian-controlled West Timor there has been little violence.

On Feb. 28, Maj. Gen. Peter Cosgrove will officially hand over
command of the military operations to de los Santos, a Philippine
military officer.