Governor says Portugal afraid

DILI, East Timor: Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares said here on Saturday that the continued postponement of discussions on East Timor at the United Nations shows that Portugal is scared of a head-on debate on it.

"For Portugal's own interest the issue has to be postponed. If it wasn't they would lose," he said as quoted by Antara.

The UN General Assembly has postponed discussion of East Timor for the 14th consecutive time.

The former Portuguese colony was integrated as part of Indonesia in 1976.

"We can assume that the postponement is because Portugal is scared. If there is a vote they know they will definitely lose, so they keep on asking for a postponement," Soares remarked. (mds)