More roads built in E. Timor

DILI, East Timor: The ministry of public works has built 1,035 kilometers of roads in the 13 regencies across the youngest province over the past five years, an official said yesterday.

The roads are only 35 percent of the total 3,452 kilometers to be built by 1999, chief of the local public works office Soemarjono said.

"Most of the road projects are in the southern part of East Timor and meant to improve land transportation with East Nusa Tenggara," he told Antara.

He said the road projects were vital for the economic development in the former Portuguese colony. (pan)