According to ABC TV station, East Timor's Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has allegedly recruited quite a powerful troop hit squad in order to kill what he perceived to be his political enemies that would have crossed him in next year's elections.

The commando group would have included former members of the Falantil resistance movement and their alleged targets would have been soldiers from the western part of the country, who were fired by Alkatiri.

This "very serious allegation", as Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer labeled it today, needs to be verified and investigated upon either by East Timor or by the United Nations: "Whether they are allegations of substance, that is another matter, but they are very serious and very dramatic allegations. Our view of it is that the East Timorese should investigate these kinds of allegations. And if they feel in the present circumstances they are unable to do so, then they should approach the international community to help them".

Moreover, Downer urged East Timor politicians to unite and develop a plan that would end all political turmoil in the country, so as to not depend on Australia or other countries in the world to solve their internal issues. The federal government also issued an official statement saying that the allegations must be investigated, a procedure to which East Timor Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta agreed.

Nevertheless, he could not refrain from expressing his disbelief: "I find it very hard to believe that our Prime Minister would arm civilians, individuals and in particular give orders to assassinate others, no matter who they are."

East Timor Prime Minister Alkatiri denied all allegations brought against him.