U.S. marines deliver humanitarian aid

U.S. marines deliver humanitarian aid

EAST TIMOR: About 1,000 U.S. marines were deployed across East
Timor on Tuesday to provide medical assistance and other aid as
part of a three-day visit to the new nation which is still
struggling to recover from years of violence.

The troops arrived in East Timor on Monday from bases in
Sasebo and Okinawa, Japan, said Maj. Paul Van Breeman, the U.S.
military spokesman in East Timor.

They will remain until Wednesday, providing medical and dental
assistance as well as helping to construct public buildings. They
will also deliver sports equipment to remote communities.

The troops -- who arrived aboard the amphibious ships USS
Essex, USS Germantown and USS Ft. McHenry -- will spend their
time in the capital, Dili, the border town of Suai and the
isolated enclave of Oecussi. --AP