Military seeks Red Cross help

DILI, East Timor: The security forces assisted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were negotiating with rebels to secure the release of two military officers held hostage since Nov. 9, Antara reported.

The chief of the Wira Dharma Military Resort, Colonel Tono Suratman said on Saturday the negotiations had been started in an attempt to secure the release of the two officers without bloodshed, adding that the military would attack if the hostages were not released.

Rebels led by Tera Mau Bulak attacked the military resort on Nov. 9 and took 13 officers hostage.

Nine officers have since escaped.

Suratman said his men had arrested four people suspected of involvement in the attack on the military resort.