Also: Gusmão appeals for global action to lessen impacts of Iraq war; Bishop Belo's comment

East Timor: Dili's leaders 'shocked' by war against Iraq

Dili, March 20 (Lusa) - East Timorese leaders expressed their "extreme preoccupation" and "shock" Thursday over the launching of war by Washington and London against Iraq.

President Xanana Gusmão appealed to the international community "not to spare efforts to minimize the social, psychological and economic impact of war on the Iraqi people brought by military intervention".

Without directly denouncing Washington, Gusmão recalled that his country was just emerging from the ravages of conflict, underlining East Timor's commitment to "dialogue" in resolving international crises.

He stressed that "respect for international law" was "fundamental for multilateral action" against terrorism and the trafficking of arms, drugs and people.

In turn, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri issued a statement saying his government was "shocked" that a "peaceful and consensual solution" had not been found within the UN Security Council, stressing Dili believed "more time" should have been given UN weapon inspectors in Iraq.

"The UN system should function in such a way as to never permit unilateral decisions by any country or group of countries in the search of solutions for problems that affect all humanity", Alkatiri said.

Separately, the United Nations mission in Dili advised its staff to take "increased precautions" against the eventuality of reprisal terrorist attacks in the wake of the US-led campaign in Iraq.

The UNMISET mission noted, however, that it had no indication of increased security risks.

ASP/SAS Lusa

LusaNews

East Timor: Gusmão appeals for global action to lessen impacts of Iraq war

Dili, March 20 (Lusa) - East Timor's president, Xanana Gusmão, "profoundly" lamented Thursday the launching of war against Iraq, expressing his "extreme preoccupation" over the forthcoming loss of life and "material and psychological destruction".

"We continue to appeal to the international community not to spare efforts to minimize the social, psychological and economic impact of war on the Iraqi people brought by military intervention", Gusmão said in Dili.

Recalling that his country was just emerging from the ravages of conflict, he underlined East Timor's commitment to "dialogue" in resolving international crises.

He stressed that "respect for international law" was "fundamental for multilateral action" against terrorism and the trafficking of arms, drugs and people.

Separately, the United Nations mission in Dili advised its staff to take "increased precautions" against the eventuality of reprisal terrorist attacks in the wake of the US-led campaign in Iraq.

The UNMISET mission noted, however, that it had no indication of increased security risks.

ASP/SAS Lusa

Former Bishop off Dili comments on Iraq

ABC News 24 March 03

East Timor's Nobel peace prize-winning former Bishop of Dili, Carlos Ximenes Belo, has appealed for a global effort to help rebuild Iraq once the war ends.

He says it is sad to see the destruction of infrastructure and watch the deaths of so many people.

He resigned as Bishop of Dili, the capital of East Timor, in November citing health reasons and is currently resting at a retreat belonging to a religious order in Portugal. Bishop Belo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advocating non-violent resistance to Indonesian rule.

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