East Timor rebel leader demands PM's resignation

The fired army commander whose rebellion triggered the collapse of security in East Timor today demanded that the prime minister resign and be put on trial.

Speaking in his hillside stronghold outside the smouldering capital, Dili, Maj. Alfredo Reinado also said he was willing to die for his cause.

Reinado, who led a band of 600 soldiers fired for insubordination into clashes with loyalist security forces, blamed Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri for East Timor’s current crisis and said it wouldn’t be over until he was gone from office.

“Alkatiri has to resign and go to court for all the crimes he ordered,” Reinado said, accusing the prime minister of telling troops to open fire on civilian demonstrators who supported the rebels.

Four people were killed and dozens injured when a demonstration turned into riots in the capital, Dili, in April.

Clashes between the rebels and security forces preceded Dili’s descent into chaos in the past week, with machete-wielding gangs fighting in the streets, looting and setting fires.

More than 2,000 foreign troops are trying to restore order.