Portugal warns of civil war outbreak in East Timor

Portugal warns of civil war outbreak in East Timor

date: 27 05, 2006

Vienna, May. 27, (BNA)

Portugal warned of the eruption of civil war in East Timor if the country's leaders rushed to handle political issues before trying to defuse the acts of violence.

Portuguese Foreign Minister, Diogo Freitas Do Amaral, who was attending a ministerial meeting for EU foreign Ministers in Vienna said in a statement that is important for East Timor leaders to focus on restoring peace and order in the country before turning dividing authority between President of East Timor, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao and the Premier, Mari Bin Amude Al Katiri.

Freitas criticized the Australian Premier, John Howard, who said that he expected from East Timor to conduct political changes in exchange for the military aid Australia had provided, considering the Howard's remarks, interference in the internal affairs of East Timor.