U.S. arms usage in E. Timor

U.S. arms usage in E. Timor

WASHINGTON (Reuters): The U.S. Congress has urged the Clinton administration not to supply arms to Indonesia that could be used in East Timor.

The language was included in a foreign aid spending bill Congress passed on Thursday. That section of the bill is non- binding but sends a strong message to the White House and to Indonesia, a Congressional aide said on Friday.

The Clinton administration already has a policy of not providing small arms, crowd control items or armored personnel carriers to Indonesia. The Congressional provision expands that to cover U.S. lethal equipment or helicopters.