Officer killed in Los Palos

DILI, East Timor: Residents in Lautem, Lospalos regency found Tuesday the stabbed body of first private Domingos Pereira on a small road in Laivai village, 200 kilometers east of here.

The 39-year-old member of a local military district is survived by his wife and four children. His body was buried at the Fuiloro national heroes cemetery in Lospalos.

Deputy chief of the East Timor military command Col. Soekotjo arrived in Lospalos yesterday to pay condolence to Periera's family.

"I don't see any political motive behind the killing and I have left the case to the police," he said.

Chief of the Lautem district police Maj. Yohanes Wardoyo said yesterday the police were still searching for the murderer. The police have questioned 11 witnesses, Wardoyo said. (33/amd)