Rebels set bulldozer on fire

DILI, East Timor: Members of the Fretilin separatist group set fire Wednesday to a bulldozer being used to construct a road in Matahori village in the East Timorese district of Viequeque, Antara reported.

The incident caused a huge financial loss, said Yusman Sembiring, the spokesman of contractor CV Taruna Karya.

The Fretilin members hijacked the bulldozer after driving away its two operators, he said Thursday.

One of the operators, Anakleto da Silva, 26, said he was attacked by about 40 rebels carrying 15 firearms and two grenades. No casualties were reported.

The construction of the four-kilometer road was meant to open the villages of Nunumalao and Iralere from isolation.