East Timor reopens airport after gang violence
Source: Reuters
(Adds calm returning to city, details)
By Lirio da Fonseca
DILI, Oct 26 (Reuters) - East Timor's main airport in the capital Dili reopened on Thursday, two days after it was closed following clashes between youths armed with guns, rocks and bows and arrows.
The closure of the country's main air hub has raised fresh questions over how to maintain security in the fledgling nation and quell the sporadic violence that has gone on despite the presence of an Australian-led peacekeeping force.
Local officials said two people were killed in the clashes but Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the death toll might be as high as four.
"We have reopened the airport today and many of our employees have come to work. A police post will be opened at the airport," said Romaldo da Silva, director of the East Timor civilian aviation authority.
He said the clashes had caused minor damage to the airport.
The gang fights started late on Tuesday on a main road leading to the airport, resulting in the death of one person by gunfire. Another died in a clash early on Wednesday.
"We've been very concerned about the violence that took place. Our information is not only (those two), but possibly two others have been killed as well," Downer told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.
The clashes broke out despite the presence of Australian troops, who led a force of foreign peacekeepers to East Timor in late May to quell fighting that pitted rival factions in the security force.
On Thursday, daily life returned to normal with schools and shops open, while public transport was operating throughout Dili.
Bangladeshi and Malaysian police guarded the airport road, straddling areas known for frequent gang clashes.
Malaysian officers were also assigned to protect the airport terminal, with a resumption of flights from the Indonesian resort island of Bali.
Downer said Australian security forces in East Timor were investigating the violence.
Gang fights are common in East Timor, the Asia-Pacific's youngest country, which has been plagued by poverty and high youth unemployment since independence in 2002. (Additional reporting by Rob Taylor in Canberra)
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