Wiranto case unlikely to be sent to Interpol

Wiranto case unlikely to be sent to Interpol

EAST TIMOR: East Timor's top prosecutor said on Tuesday it would not be in his country's interest to forward to Interpol an arrest warrant for Indonesian presidential candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto.

"As an institution of the state, whatever I'm doing has to correspond with the policies of the state," prosecutor-general Longuinhos Monteiro told AFP.

His comments follow a meeting with President Xanana Gusmao, who says relations with former ruler Indonesia should take priority over United Nations-backed efforts to seek justice for atrocities in the territory in 1999.

When specifically whether he would forward the warrant to Interpol, Monteiro said: "I cannot do anything before I get clearance."

UN-funded prosecutors in Dili have charged Wiranto, a former armed forces chief, with crimes against humanity. They say he bears command responsibility for murder and other crimes committed by Indonesian forces against independence supporters.-- AFP