FED: US officials told of East Timor troops plan: report

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-1999
FED: US officials told of East Timor troops plan: report

MELBOURNE, Aug 10 AAP - American military officials told Australian defence strategists in
June the US would consider deploying up to 15,000 troops to East Timor if bloodshed
dramatically escalated in the province, it was reported today.

The Age said the US contingency plans included the deployment of marines for peace
enforcement.

The Australian government rejected a request in June from US military officials to attach
Australian military liaison officers to a possible US enforcement mission, it said.

The US officials made it clear the contingency plan would only apply in extreme
circumstances to quickly stop large-scale violence by Indonesian-backed militias.

AAP imc/bm

KEYWORD: TIMOR US

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