4 people possibly die in violence in Timor-Leste: Australian FM

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Thursday that four people are likely to have died in renewed violence which broke out around the international airport in Timor-Leste's capital of Dili Tuesday night.

His statement came after newspaper reports said two were killed in the violence, in which several people were also injured as hundreds were involved.

A group of youths attacked a rival group near a refugee camp next to the airport, which was closed following the violence.

"Our information is not only that but possibly two others have been killed as well," he said.

Downer said Australian forces in the country are on alert.

"The violence was quite bad out around and at the airport," he was quoted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio as saying.

"The airport is opening again this morning I believe, but we're obviously investigating how this could have happened and what has motivated it," he said.

An Australian man was evacuated from Dili after being caught up in the violence.

Source: Xinhua