| Subject: Guerrillas will
disarm when Indon soldiers go, says E. Timor leader Guerrillas will disarm when Indonesian soldiers go, says East Timor leader
LONDON, Oct 6 (AFP) - Xanana Gusmao, the East Timor leader,
reaffirmed Wednesday that separatist guerrillas in the province were willing to disarm,
but only when "every single Indonesian soldier is out of the country."
Gusmao told a press conference that the Falintil
pro-independence force would disarm once a transitional UN administration in the territory
had been established.
There could be "no symmetry between disarming of the
resistance forces and the so-called (pro-Indonesian) militias," he said.
The East Timor leader was speaking after talks with British
premier Tony Blair, on a tour which has also taken him to the US, Ireland and Portugal.
Gusmao also said it was crucial that Portugal -- the former
colonial power in East Timor -- be given a special role in a future transitional
administration.
"If there is a country we trust, that is
Portugal," he said.
Gusmao said that the Portuguese escudo could become the
independent territory's national currency.
"The only strong central bank willing to support us is
the Portuguese central bank," he said.
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