UN ship, cargo plane to arrive in E. Timor

Dili, East Timor: A cargo aircraft and a ship transporting United Nations equipment for the Aug. 7 ballot in East Timor are scheduled to arrive in the province on Monday.

David Wimhurst, a spokesman for the UN team in East Timor, said on Sunday that the Russian, wide-body cargo plane carrying UN communications equipment and technicians was scheduled to land at Baucau Airport, while the Artic Atlantic ship carrying 25 cars, helicopter spare parts and other equipment from Darwin, Australia, would dock at Dili's seaport.

Wimhurst said all the equipment would be used by the UN team in observing the ballot to determine the troubled territory's future.

Indonesia and Portugal in a UN-sponsored tripartite dialog recently agreed to organize a ballot to let East Timorese people determine whether they will accept the special autonomy package offered by the government or opt for independence.

Wimhurst said 15 more UN staffers would arrive in the city on Monday and Tuesday to join their colleagues. (33/rms)