Journalist's attackers arrested

DILI, East Timor: Police have arrested four of the five people suspected of beating up Gaudensius Mau, a journalist from the Jakarta-based Tiras weekly and Suara Timor Timur daily, a report said yesterday.

Chief of East Timor police Col. Yusuf Muchram said police first arrested two suspects. Working on the tip from the two, police then arrested another two suspects, whose identities Muchram refused to divulge.

Police had said earlier that eight people attacked the reporter.

Muchram said the four suspects have admitted to attacking Mau on Nov. 17 because the tone of voice he used to ask them a question offended them.

Mau is being treated in Dili General Hospital and is still unable to speak to police.

Muchram was quoted by Antara as saying that if the victim's health improved, police would cross-check his account of the attack with that of the attackers. (ste)