Troops capture Fretelin rebel

DILI, East Timor: In a skirmish last week with a group of separatist rebels in Baucau, about 200 kilometers east of here, troops are reported to have captured one member of the Fretelin organization.

Col. Kiki Syahnakri, chief of the Wira Dharma military command overseeing security in East Timor, said Clementino, the man captured, was now in a Dili hospital being treated for bullet wounds received on his leg.

"Journalists may go and see him in the hospital," he said.

The authorities seized a gun, one hand grenade and 10 bullets from the 36-year-old Clementino, he said.

He said the capture of Clementino reduced the number of guerrillas still at large to 187 in possession of 106 rifles.(yac)