Australia scales down East Timor operations

Australia will begin withdrawing 200 troops from nearby East Timor today because security in the restive nation has improved since rebel soldiers wounded the president, the prime minister said.

Today’s withdrawal will reduce Australia’s troop commitment there to 750 – the same level as before East Timor’s President Jose Ramos-Horta was shot in February outside his home near the capital, Dili, Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd said.