Australian PM Visits Timor Leste

It appears John Howard has to nip over and check out the situation in East Timor himself just to make sure the country is doing alright. As if he wasn't already a pain in the pocket for the fledgling country.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard arrived in East Timor's convulsed capital to start the first visit by a foreign leader since a new prime minister took office in the crisis torn country.

Howard who arrived in Dili amid tight security told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Radio before leaving Australia that he was looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta during his one day visit.

"I know him well from earlier meetings and earlier responsibilities but I want to talk to him as the newly installed prime minister" Howard said.

Australia led Malaysian, Portuguese and New Zealand peacekeepers into Dili in May at the East Timorese government's request when local security forces lost control of escalating violence.

Howard however declined to discuss when Australian troops might leave.

"I am not going to hazard a prediction except to say they will be needed for some time but not as in large numbers as are there now" Howard told the ABC.

Ramos-Horta replaced Mari Alkatiri who resigned last month after failing to stop the violence that erupted in the capital when he dismissed 600 soldiers, more than 40 percent of the country's army, after they went on strike complaining of discrimination.

Ramos-Horta pledged to end the violence that has wracked Asia's newest nation and sent 150,000 people fleeing their homes.