2 January -- United Nations police officers broke up two violent demonstrations in East Timor following New Year celebrations in the territory's capital, Dili, the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) said today.

According to the UN mission, a fight between a Singaporean businessman and a local Falintil commander in a restaurant escalated to a brawl in which at least five people were slightly injured. A gang of about 50 East Timorese gathered outside and began throwing stones at cars and at the front of the building. The situation was brought under control after an hour. Five UN vehicles were damaged during the incident.

Following the scuffle, two international businessmen were arrested by UNTAET's civilian police. An investigation is ongoing, the UN mission said.

In a separate incident, a group of some 40 Timorese, some of them intoxicated, threw stones at Dili's Anur mosque - home to approximately 200 Muslims - early New Year's Day. The trouble started after the attackers were denied access to one of the cars belonging to the people residing in the mosque.

The crowd dispersed after UN civilian police forces arrived at the scene and fired two warning shots into the air. No arrests have been made as the investigation continues, UNTAET said.

 

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