Man shot dead by group of armed men

DILI, East Timor: A Carabau villager in the Bonobaro regency was shot dead in the village of Wababa, Covalima, by a group of armed men on Sunday.

Fernando Cardoso, 25, and his two friends were riding on a motorbike from Carabau to Covalima when they spotted a red Toyota van with six passengers.

The six men reportedly became upset because Fernando and his friends tried to overtake them. After a heated quarrel, one of the six passengers took out a gun and shot Fernando.

East Timor Military Commander Col. Tono Suratman confirmed the fatal shooting, and acknowledged the six could have been members of a militia. He promised to take stern action against the shooter.

"It is possible that a militia member shot the victim because he might have felt threatened by Fernando's hostility toward him," Tono said. (33/prb)