Police attackers admit guilt

DILI, East Timor: Three men believed to be involved in the recent ambush on a police mobile brigade in Bairro Pite village, west of Dili, admitted the guilt and said they were acting under the instruction of a certain Julio, a former pier worker here.

Fransisco da Silva (22), Jose dos Santos (20), both pier workers, and Fransisco Soares (19), said here yesterday they attacked the police office on the eve of polling day last Thursday.

They said the operation took them about 20 minutes.

Santos said that earlier on Thursday Julio promised him some money after the ambush. Santos, who was arrested in Hudilaran on the same day, said Julio and another person by the name of Cosmy Belo brought two rifles and a short machete with them.

Da Silva said Julio promised to give him Rp 50,000 (about US$24) if he joined the ambush, but had not received the money.

"I have never participated in any attack before and never been arrested," da Silva was quoted by Antara as saying.

He admitted he fled from Bairro Pite village to Hudilaran, where he was arrested after the attack.

The other attacker, Soares, named the other 10 attackers. They were Cosmy Belo, Gusmao, Mario Lopes, Gaspar, Pereira, Agostinho Soares, Fernando, Carlito and Pedro. Five of the aggressors were shot dead. (33/swe)